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
Lawson said Cal Fire makes N-95 masks available to those fighting fires, which can protect firefighters from particulate matter and certain irritants that cause Valley Fever, a fungal infection, Lawson said.
—
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Clothes worn outside can carry pollen, dust and other irritants.
—Rhonda Conner-Warren, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Most sneezes are triggered by contact with infectious agents or after inhaling irritants, but the cause of photic sneezing is not fully understood.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
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
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Clothes worn outside can carry pollen, dust and other irritants.
—Rhonda Conner-Warren, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Most sneezes are triggered by contact with infectious agents or after inhaling irritants, but the cause of photic sneezing is not fully understood.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritants
Noun
-
There have been several Republican senatorial candidates who have caused major headaches for the party.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
PaaS let developers skip infrastructure headaches.—
Vincentas Grinius,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Decades ago, marshes were considered nuisances, soggy flats to be drained, dried, and made waterproof with liberal coatings of asphalt.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Don't hide from the layers of emotions and frustrations.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
West Ham United fans are no strangers to voicing their frustrations at the club’s board.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
11 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
-
One of my long-standing annoyances with macOS was the lack of control over the menu bar.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Minor annoyances suddenly widen into a chasm neither can cross.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Forget about the inconveniences and disruption of control and logistics that coach Andy Reid typically is so adamant about.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Irritants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritants. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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