as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
the whining child was a constant irritant to his long-suffering parents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irritant
These include drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding irritants such as scented soaps and using over-the-counter pain relievers.
—
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
This soothing hydrogel mask is hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and free of 25 common irritants.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
The Two-Stage Tear Cascade While past research had already identified the irritant in onions—known to chemists as propanethial S-oxide—this study is the first to explain how the sulfur compound reaches a cook's eyes.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Protests broke out in the city Saturday and armed border patrol agents deployed what appeared to be chemical irritants toward protesters.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
This soothing hydrogel mask is hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and free of 25 common irritants.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
The Two-Stage Tear Cascade While past research had already identified the irritant in onions—known to chemists as propanethial S-oxide—this study is the first to explain how the sulfur compound reaches a cook's eyes.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Protests broke out in the city Saturday and armed border patrol agents deployed what appeared to be chemical irritants toward protesters.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritant
Noun
-
Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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But just one week later, on June 1, 2019, a splitting headache and blurred vision sent her racing back to the hospital.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Lorincz, who is white, hated loud noise, and called police and first responders multiple times over the years claiming the children were trespassing, bothersome, threatening, and a nuisance.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
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Establishing a track record of violations could potentially help the city in future civil suits brought against the Eco Motel, or any other property considered a nuisance.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Often a thorn in the side of leadership, Massie is unlikely to strike any deal with leadership to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Oct. 2025
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Buds will fail to open properly, and some of the canes will have multitudes of thorns.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That doesn’t mean Ohtani’s frustrations aren’t bleeding through.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Bergeron said producers broke an agreement to avoid partisan bookings, prompting him to publicly voice his frustration.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Democratic National Committee congratulated Mamdani on his win but is hardly sending resources to a race that has drawn annoyance from the typical raft of consultants still trying to figure out what, exactly, the party can sell in the next cycle.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
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Kate’s annoyance at her decoy agent having bird’s nest hair is a similarly dry delight.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritant. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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