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
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
That means every room your kids sleep, play and eat in gets a fresh dose of dust particles and irritants — especially important if anyone in the house has allergies or asthma.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Trump is shrugging them off, entering a state of weightlessness where all thought of consequences and all concern for mundane irritants like inflation and affordability are left behind.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026
Vines that contain irritants should also not be added to the compost pile or burned because the smoke can be toxic.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Poor ventilation in office buildings, along with tight quarters and air filters that aren’t regularly cleaned or replaced, can allow dust, allergens, and other irritants to build up—potentially contributing to dry eyes, skin irritation, or dull-looking skin.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 8 Apr. 2026
These common irritants can pass right through a standard vacuum filter and get blown back into the air.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
There certainly are harmful chemicals, carcinogens, toxins, heavy metals, respiratory irritants and other things inside of there that certainly can cause immediate harm.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
That's because these substances accumulate quickly in bedding and create an ideal environment for dust mites and other irritants.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
That means every room your kids sleep, play and eat in gets a fresh dose of dust particles and irritants — especially important if anyone in the house has allergies or asthma.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Trump is shrugging them off, entering a state of weightlessness where all thought of consequences and all concern for mundane irritants like inflation and affordability are left behind.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026
Vines that contain irritants should also not be added to the compost pile or burned because the smoke can be toxic.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Poor ventilation in office buildings, along with tight quarters and air filters that aren’t regularly cleaned or replaced, can allow dust, allergens, and other irritants to build up—potentially contributing to dry eyes, skin irritation, or dull-looking skin.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 8 Apr. 2026
These common irritants can pass right through a standard vacuum filter and get blown back into the air.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
There certainly are harmful chemicals, carcinogens, toxins, heavy metals, respiratory irritants and other things inside of there that certainly can cause immediate harm.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
That's because these substances accumulate quickly in bedding and create an ideal environment for dust mites and other irritants.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritants
Noun
-
The event’s ticket policies are also a common point of discussion, one that causes frequent headaches and confusion for organizers and fans alike.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The war also caused gasoline and diesel prices to surge, causing further headaches for farmers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The end of the hibernation period in spring brings new bat movement, which means more nuisances for homes with roosts.—
Caden Perry,
jsonline.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The Florida law shields shooting ranges, specifically, from being sued as nuisances.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Teenagers scaled Budapest’s iconic Chain Bridge and blasted revolutionary anthems by artists whose songs captured young people’s frustrations with the regime.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Brown voiced his frustrations with the Eagles’ passing offense during the regular season, then engaged in a screaming match with Sirianni during Philadelphia’s first-round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Use clean pruners to trim away shoots, thorns, or roots along the soil and to help maintain the tree’s size.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This is a youthful, elegant rose that still has all its thorns.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To be sure, there can be annoyances.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In order to make sure horses keep their cool among loud, unpredictable crowds, officers do desensitization training with speakers, sirens, inflatable tube men, kazoos, fireworks, flags and all manner of annoyances.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Amazon has never totally cut off support for older Kindle models before, though owners of those devices have occasionally had to put up with some inconveniences.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026
-
There are plenty of inconveniences frequent air travelers have become accustomed to, from long security lines to shrinking overhead storage bins, but few are as disconcerting as heavy turbulence in flight.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritants. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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