irks 1 of 2

noun

plural of irk
as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation one of the prof's major irks is a cell phone that rings during a lecture

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

irks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of irk
as in annoys
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts she irked her friend by chewing her gum loudly during the movie

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irks
Verb
That includes a 1986 quarterfinal match in Mexico that still irks England fans. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026 Tunnel clubs and creeping commercialisation which irks City’s legacy fans. — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 21 May 2026 Will’s short stature and lack of experience irks his idol Jett Filmore (Gabrielle Union, doing some complex voice acting), the Thorns’ aging star player. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026 There's something about red that just really irks me. — Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025 This particular iteration just irks you for some reason. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025 There is no appeal process, which irks Smith. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025 It's pumiced enough to have no snags, no irks. — Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025 Knowing that this irks travelers, a growing number of hotels are installing intuitive lighting solutions. — Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irks
  1. headaches
  2. annoys
  3. frustrations
  4. bothers
  5. nuisances
  6. irritates
  7. thorns
  8. bugs
Noun
  • Common symptoms include fever, headaches, body aches, joint pain, rash, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Others get quiet, clingy or suddenly complain of stomachaches and headaches.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of headaches
Verb
  • Hotel-booking platform HotelTonight surveyed 447 of its American adult users in June about what annoys them the most during travel.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 21 July 2026
  • But Turner is a symbol for everything that annoys people about the Phillies.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of annoys
Noun
  • Many were quick to express their frustrations over the outage on social media.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Some version of both, with all the frustrations and unknowns that come along.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrations
Verb
  • My concern is what happens when the signal becomes so established that nobody bothers separating it from the qualities it was supposed to represent.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The result is a bunch of people losing their jobs, which really bothers me.
    — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothers
Noun
  • Others argued that the report seems to cast members of the media as nuisances to be dealt with, while ignoring instances in which journalists were targeted by law enforcement.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Kansas City City Council approved a trio of ordinances on Thursday aimed at vacant properties that become nuisances and staving off demolition of historic buildings.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of nuisances
Verb
  • The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
  • Anyone who has sat through a mandatory team-building exercise knows the difference between a ritual that binds and a program that irritates.
    — Julia Dhar, Time, 11 July 2026
Definition of irritates
Noun
  • In many species, the pronotum extends over the body to form elaborate shapes that resemble thorns, buds, or other plant structures, providing excellent camouflage.
    — Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
  • These networks used to buffer against isolation and economic displacement—the thorns of modern life that make partnership more valuable yet love more difficult to find.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of thorns
Verb
  • Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to check for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs before settling in.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
  • Instead, as Laura bugs her sister long enough about just forgiving her already, Mary explodes.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Definition of bugs

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Cite this Entry

“Irks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irks. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of irks for Spanish Speakers

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