irritant

noun

ˈir-ə-tənt How to pronounce irritant (audio)
Definition of irritantnext
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation the whining child was a constant irritant to his long-suffering parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 irritant Glycidyl methacrylate is an irritant that can cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and skin, according to the city of Toledo. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Avoiding scented soaps, tight clothing and other vulvar irritants may also reduce discomfort, according to the Mayo Clinic. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2026 Nodules can be caused by a variety of factors including scar tissue, lung irritants, inflammatory conditions, current or past infections, or cancer. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 Their wavelike motion helps move around germs, mucus, dust, and other irritants so the body can dispel them via coughing or sneezing. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritant
  1. headache
  2. nuisance
  3. thorn
  4. frustration
  5. annoyance
Noun
  • Symptoms can include headache, fever, stiff neck and sensitivity to light.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • However, lead researcher Ferdinand Kuemmeth, an experimental physicist at the University of Regensburg and Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute, argued that the technique solves a looming industrial headache.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of headache
Noun
  • In Shibuya, Halloween festivities were already a nuisance — but now, officials realized there was more to worry about than empty bottles and loud music.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The residents want a court to rule that Los Angeles must abate the nuisance on its properties, Wurman said.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of nuisance
Noun
  • Carlos Alberto Manzo gained a reputation as a mayor crusading against cartels, a thorn in the side of criminals and political powerbrokers.
    — Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • This is a guy who’s finding that thorn and, hopefully, pulling it by the end.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of thorn
Noun
  • But across this wolf may cry, her breathy delivery becomes so uniform that longing, frustration, and romantic desperation frequently sound indistinguishable.
    — Precious Fondren, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
  • And rather than allowing his defense to anchor him during challenging games, the wing often allows his frustration to seep into his defensive assignments.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • The Serbian leader had long been seen as an unpredictable annoyance, and his balancing act wasn’t particularly subtle.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But the right routine can ease the annoyance and foster success.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoyance

Browse Nearby Words

irritableness
irritant
irritants
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritant. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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