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
According to Harvard Health, those concerns usually center on irritants, endocrine disruptors and potential carcinogens.
—
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Asked about Valdez, Bis said law enforcement deployed chemical irritants including pepper balls, but not rubber bullets, after agitators attempted to breach the perimeter at Glass House Farms.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
For decades, scientists assumed the primary purpose of sneezing was simply to expel irritants from the upper airway.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Federal agents also tackled several people and deployed chemical irritants at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.
—Beret Leone, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Caffeine, alcohol and certain acidic or spicy foods can act as bladder irritants for some people.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 May 2026
An open window, your shoes, or even your clothing could bring in pollen or other outdoor irritants.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Many older people suffer from symptoms that resemble pollen allergies—runny nose and congestion—but the majority of these seniors are actually bothered by other airborne irritants, such as cigarette smoke, perfumes or cleaning products.
—Matt Fuchs, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
Natural solutions like baking soda mixed with essential oils or a light vinegar spray for odors and stains are gentler alternatives that avoid introducing new irritants into your sleep environment.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Asked about Valdez, Bis said law enforcement deployed chemical irritants including pepper balls, but not rubber bullets, after agitators attempted to breach the perimeter at Glass House Farms.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
For decades, scientists assumed the primary purpose of sneezing was simply to expel irritants from the upper airway.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Federal agents also tackled several people and deployed chemical irritants at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.
—Beret Leone, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Caffeine, alcohol and certain acidic or spicy foods can act as bladder irritants for some people.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 May 2026
An open window, your shoes, or even your clothing could bring in pollen or other outdoor irritants.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Many older people suffer from symptoms that resemble pollen allergies—runny nose and congestion—but the majority of these seniors are actually bothered by other airborne irritants, such as cigarette smoke, perfumes or cleaning products.
—Matt Fuchs, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
Natural solutions like baking soda mixed with essential oils or a light vinegar spray for odors and stains are gentler alternatives that avoid introducing new irritants into your sleep environment.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritants
Noun
-
People there in the 1970s were getting sick with symptoms like severe fatigue, headaches, skin rashes and swollen knees.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Persistent headaches, scratchy throats and that foggy, fatigued feeling that never quite lifts may not be a virus or seasonal pollen.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
For buyers whose lives are otherwise optimized to the point of abstraction, taking on those tangible nuisances can feel almost noble.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
-
Japanese beetles and slugs are pesky nuisances that will go after the basil in your garden.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Lahn seized on those frustrations.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
3 June 2026
-
Body language aside, Brown also didn’t share his frustrations publicly, declining to speak with reporters.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Other diamonds have spikier settings resembling thorns.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
Thanks to four layers of latex and a 3750D elastic outer fabric, the inner hose is protected from pesky things like thorns and sharp corners.—
Quincy Bulin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The best affordable pet products are ones that solve everyday annoyances—like odor, shedding, scratch damage, messy mealtimes or anxious behaviors.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
-
Snap Layouts make multitasking cleaner, virtual desktops help organize projects, and improved search and voice typing tools cut down on little daily annoyances.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Over time, such inconveniences became insulation.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
One of the priorities for the team was to create a product that feels more like sleeping in a bed rather than in a sleeping bag, so a lot of effort went into reducing typical inconveniences.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritants. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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