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
History of Allergies Women with a history of allergies—which includes eczema, food allergies and hay fever—are more likely to get it because their immune systems are more likely to respond to irritants by triggering an inflammatory response.
—
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
Volunteers spoke of the risks of verbal and physical confrontations with ICE agents, including the use of pepper spray and other irritants against observers and even arrests.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
This is because mold can produce irritants that bother those who have allergies, leading to sneezing, congestion, and rashes.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
Chemical irritants affect the eyes, skin and lungs first, causing scratches to the surface of the eye, painful skin reactions, breathing difficulties and acute psychological distress.
—Michele Heisler, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
Volunteers spoke of the risks of verbal and physical confrontations with ICE agents, including the use of pepper spray and other irritants against observers and even arrests.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
This is because mold can produce irritants that bother those who have allergies, leading to sneezing, congestion, and rashes.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
Chemical irritants affect the eyes, skin and lungs first, causing scratches to the surface of the eye, painful skin reactions, breathing difficulties and acute psychological distress.
—Michele Heisler, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritant
Noun
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Finn was experiencing headaches and nausea, which led to an emergency room visit and a sudden diagnosis.—
Jori Parys,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Symptoms can include fever, headache, facial swelling, malaise and swelling of the salivary glands.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For long, chip designers have viewed moving ions as a nuisance.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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The lawsuit asks the Ingham County Circuit Court to declare Kalshi's internet sports betting operation a common law nuisance and to issue a permanent injunction and order of abatement enjoining and restraining Kalshi from engaging in or advertising its internet sports betting operation in Michigan.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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No anti-Iran narrative Iran has been a thorn in the side of many American presidents for a long time.—
Charles Walldorf,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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Its canes are reddish in color and covered with spiny thorns.—
Carl R. Gold,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There was a crisp new poster on the easel at the Werth practice facility that displayed the Big East Tournament trophy, not yet mauled in frustration and held together by tape like the regular-season version had been.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
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The cost of parking, and parking tickets, has long been a frustration for state workers who commute to downtown Sacramento.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One of the great delights, but also slight annoyances of doing a show as popular as American Psycho, [is] that family, friends, everyone wants to see it.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
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Cue more annoyance among the home fans.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritant. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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