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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of irritants
Another standout feature is its CertiPur-US and Greenguard Gold certifications, which mean it’s made without harmful materials and won’t release irritants that can trigger allergies.
—
Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Nearby, other agents fire chemical irritants into the ground to keep bystanders away, appearing to cause some people to cough, the video shows.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
It was formulated free of typical eye irritants, including parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, and contained less than one percent synthetic fragrance.
—Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
The June 14 protests were mostly peaceful until protesters and local law enforcement officers clashed in downtown LA, leading to officers deploying chemical irritants and flash bang grenades at civilians.
—Madeline Armstrong, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Have protective goggles or shatter-resistant glasses (for tear gas or irritants).
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit that police used excessive force and violated their constitutional rights by deploying tear gas, chemical irritants, projectiles, grenades and pepper spray.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Dirty clothing can also cause or worsen rashes in some people, depending on which skin irritants are lingering in your clothes.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
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
Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Nearby, other agents fire chemical irritants into the ground to keep bystanders away, appearing to cause some people to cough, the video shows.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
It was formulated free of typical eye irritants, including parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, and contained less than one percent synthetic fragrance.
—Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
The June 14 protests were mostly peaceful until protesters and local law enforcement officers clashed in downtown LA, leading to officers deploying chemical irritants and flash bang grenades at civilians.
—Madeline Armstrong, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Have protective goggles or shatter-resistant glasses (for tear gas or irritants).
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit that police used excessive force and violated their constitutional rights by deploying tear gas, chemical irritants, projectiles, grenades and pepper spray.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Dirty clothing can also cause or worsen rashes in some people, depending on which skin irritants are lingering in your clothes.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritants
Noun
-
Aldo Olivieri, il Gatto Magico (the Magic Cat), who had survived a fractured skull that required drilling to save his life and left him with chronic headaches, became the first-choice goalkeeper.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But the holiday headaches might get much worse as the government shutdown causes flight reductions at major airports.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
An Orange County judge granted the city of Santa Ana’s request for a preliminary injunction against several businesses on East First Street accused of being public nuisances.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The surfers, initially viewed by some as welcome curiosities and by others as nuisances, became harbingers of economic salvation through tourism, now the dominant industry, though still a relatively new one.—
David Amsden,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Mamdani’s agenda—rent freezes, universal childcare, free public transit—echoes the frustrations of a city where affordability and dignity have become luxuries.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Designers are focusing on solving the real frustrations travelers face in airports, train stations and hotel rooms.—
Sal Vaglica,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
To eat the nopales, remove the spines (spikes, thorns, or barbs) and use them raw in salads or cooked in soups or tacos.—
Barbie Cervoni,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
-
What fantastic fantasies will lure risk-seeking treasure hunters to breach the massive walls of iron thorns surrounding mysterious radioactive caverns buried deep in the deserts?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Carry a pack of tissues everywhere in case they are needed because the slightest comments or annoyances could set us off at these times.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But that conspiracy tends to manifest in the form of universal contemporary annoyances.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But inconveniences are expected to grow in the coming days as flight reductions reach 10% at the nation's 40 busiest airports.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
This one ratchets up the paranoia even more than usual, putting Ron through the wringer once again with a series of bizarre and possibly related inconveniences.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritants. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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