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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of irks
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
Mickey then makes mention of how much time Ashley has been spending up in the HOH room, which irks Ashley to no end.
—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Mickey then makes mention of how much time Ashley has been spending up in the HOH room, which irks Ashley to no end.
—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irks
Noun
-
But the departures are often bigger PR headaches than operational ones.
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But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
Verb
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What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?
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One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.
Noun
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Those frustrations could be on the verge of boiling over.
-
South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence as migrants from poor nations like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi generally end up settling in impoverished communities in South Africa where unemployment and frustrations are high.
Verb
-
Oh, and more often than not, nobody bothers to check whether the change intervention actually worked, or whether leaders improve their performance after all!
-
The government no longer even bothers to disguise itself as a democracy.
Noun
-
Besides being nuisances, many types carry diseases including West Nile virus, encephalitis, and canine heartworm.
-
If the nuisances continue at Albany Care, the city is seeking a court order to shut the facility down, separate from the state action.
Verb
-
If someone is in your life long enough, they’re bound to do something that irritates you—and you’re bound to do something that irritates them.
-
Elsa’s inquisitive presence almost instantly irritates Amalia, as the latter refuses to simply acquiesce to her relentless quizzing.
Noun
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An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.
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The match was set, and now Rhodes will defend the title against the two thorns in his side since before Clash in Italy.
Verb
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When traveling, the EPA suggests inspecting any room visitors will be staying in for the presence of bed bugs.
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As an existing subdivision — 99% of it vacant — Azure Vista offered hundreds of buildable vacant lots populated only by red ants, quail and Groucho Marx bugs.
Cite this Entry
“Irks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irks. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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