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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Recent Examples of irritant
Eyssimont made a name for himself with the Tampa Bay Lightning as being an irritant.
—
Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Pearls, on the other hand, are made by soft-bodied mollusks in reaction to an irritant that has entered their shell.
—Caitlin Kennedy, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2026
Then the ball was tipped, and Hyland assumed his role as an irritant of Denver’s corner shooters.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
An open window, your shoes, or even your clothing could bring in pollen or other outdoor irritants.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Pearls, on the other hand, are made by soft-bodied mollusks in reaction to an irritant that has entered their shell.
—Caitlin Kennedy, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2026
Then the ball was tipped, and Hyland assumed his role as an irritant of Denver’s corner shooters.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
An open window, your shoes, or even your clothing could bring in pollen or other outdoor irritants.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritant
Noun
-
Lyme disease, causing a fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
-
Persistent headaches, scratchy throats and that foggy, fatigued feeling that never quite lifts may not be a virus or seasonal pollen.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Plaskolite was cited for causing a public nuisance, according to AQMD documents.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
When to See a Doctor For the vast majority of new parents, dry skin is a temporary, frustrating nuisance that resolves as your hormones stabilize and your body adjusts to its new rhythm.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Some have thorns or spines, others have poisonous leaves or berries, and still others have…elaborate chemical defense alarm systems?—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
3 June 2026
-
The eight bedrooms—four of which can be joined to make two family suites—are set far apart on a gravel pathway through the winter thorn forest (the furthest a brisk five-minute walk from the living area).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Those frustrations turned to elation last summer when not only did Uzbekistan finally qualify, but did so with a game to spare when edging out the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in their group.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
Rajoub refused the entreaty, much to the frustration and embarrassment of Infantino.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
As a surprise, rather than ditching the electrically adjustable climate vent fan direction, which probably costs and weighs more than simple physical sliders, the R2 sticks with the same system as the R1—legitimately an annoyance and one that borders on dangerous.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
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Being in the same room can make issues worse, with choosing what to watch on television and snoring being the biggest annoyances.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritant. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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