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
Chemicals from the fire include respiratory irritants, toxic gases, carcinogens and at least one neurotoxin, according to the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services.
—
Brandon Downs, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The tiny irritants Americans call chiggers are the larval stage of Trombiculidae mites.
—Eva Flowe
june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Vaginal and intimate health issues affect millions of women, often exacerbated by conventional products containing irritants, hormonal changes, menopause, cancer treatments, or imbalances in the vaginal microbiome.
—Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Kids with heavy exposure to polluted air, tobacco smoke, animal dander and other irritants may develop allergies at higher rates than others.
—Dr. Daniel Digiacomo, Boston Herald, 7 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
Caffeine, alcohol and certain acidic or spicy foods can act as bladder irritants for some people.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 May 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
Brandon Downs, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The tiny irritants Americans call chiggers are the larval stage of Trombiculidae mites.
—Eva Flowe
june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Vaginal and intimate health issues affect millions of women, often exacerbated by conventional products containing irritants, hormonal changes, menopause, cancer treatments, or imbalances in the vaginal microbiome.
—Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Kids with heavy exposure to polluted air, tobacco smoke, animal dander and other irritants may develop allergies at higher rates than others.
—Dr. Daniel Digiacomo, Boston Herald, 7 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
Caffeine, alcohol and certain acidic or spicy foods can act as bladder irritants for some people.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 May 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
-
Common symptoms include headaches, fever, diarrhea, muscle weakness, tingling or numbness, neck stiffness or flu-like symptoms.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
This first patient had fever, headaches, muscle pain, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea and abdominal pain, among other symptoms.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
And even then, referees seemed to regard injuries as nuisances that stopped the flow of the game.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Onions will repel not only aphids and spider mites, but also larger garden nuisances, like deer.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Putting those questions up front helps avoid the tenant frustrations that have dogged parts of the industry as operators expand, contract or change hands.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
-
Local media reported the clashes involving small groups of migrants erupted because of frustrations at the delays in them returning home.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Others may even have thorns, so thornless trees like the captivator are quite popular.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
10 June 2026
-
Some have thorns or spines, others have poisonous leaves or berries, and still others have…elaborate chemical defense alarm systems?—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
These scams are not random annoyances.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
-
Being in the same room can make issues worse, with choosing what to watch on television and snoring being the biggest annoyances.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Clark was reminded that her WNBA debut came at Mohegan Sun, on May 14, 2024, that whatever the inconveniences there are in playing at the casino, away from big cities, there are also a couple of Krispy Kreme outposts on site.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2026
-
The World Cup’s arrival in South Florida comes with some inconveniences for drivers.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritants. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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