as in headaches
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 irritants
The test identifies over 120 allergens, including food intolerances, environmental triggers, and household irritants.
—
Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
This filtration system ensures that your floors are getting their most thorough clean, while also ridding your space of irritants like dust that can cause allergy flare-ups.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Protective goggles or shatter-resistant glasses (for tear gas or irritants).
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Do not apply perfumes, deodorants, or other possible irritants before the procedure.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
The Voice of America and its later branches are designed to be irritants to undemocratic regimes.
—arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Both men were irritants to Erdogan and could stir up trouble, but neither was a real threat to Erdogan’s power.
—Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
Its simple formula leaves out common irritants (looking at you, fragrance) and instead lets hydrating hero ingredients like shea butter and panthenol do the work.
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025
With his fourth corner 3-pointer in as many tries — three of them launched in front of OKC’s meddling sideline — Watson spun around and trash-talked his irritants, gleefully backpedaling to the end of the floor that he’s actually meant to dominate.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025
Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
This filtration system ensures that your floors are getting their most thorough clean, while also ridding your space of irritants like dust that can cause allergy flare-ups.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Protective goggles or shatter-resistant glasses (for tear gas or irritants).
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Do not apply perfumes, deodorants, or other possible irritants before the procedure.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
The Voice of America and its later branches are designed to be irritants to undemocratic regimes.
—arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Both men were irritants to Erdogan and could stir up trouble, but neither was a real threat to Erdogan’s power.
—Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
Its simple formula leaves out common irritants (looking at you, fragrance) and instead lets hydrating hero ingredients like shea butter and panthenol do the work.
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025
With his fourth corner 3-pointer in as many tries — three of them launched in front of OKC’s meddling sideline — Watson spun around and trash-talked his irritants, gleefully backpedaling to the end of the floor that he’s actually meant to dominate.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritants
Noun
-
At the higher doses, most people had brief hallucinations or visual distortions, along with some nausea and headaches.—
Dr. Christian S. Monsalve,
ABC News,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The exhausted teen has headaches and blurred vision sleeps about 75% of the day.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But according to Aaron Shmulewitz, a real-estate lawyer, the process for dealing with a repeat window flasher in your co-op isn’t all that different from other nuisances like someone across the hall blasting metal music at midnight.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
For Wilson, her story starts like that of many who face the same frustrations, but few who use their magic to turn them into solutions.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Their frustrations with current solutions point to future opportunities.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One was treated for minor injuries, likely from rose-bush thorns, Christensen said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Both the northern and southern branches of the reef have been battered lately by tropical storms and the encroachment of invasive coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, but heat stress driven by warming oceans is the primary cause, scientists told the BBC.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Minor annoyances suddenly widen into a chasm neither can cross.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Overgrown weeds, overhanging branches, litter, loud noises — all of these annoyances might come from your Milwaukee neighbor, but not every complaint should go to the same place.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Because eventually, these small inconveniences pale in comparison to the greater goals and purposes that your club gives you.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
In this scenario, the Kremlin could meet a moment where its resistance to the banal inconveniences of reality, and the economic hardship of its own people, turns toxic.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritants. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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