Synonym Chooser

How is the word irritate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of irritate are exasperate, nettle, peeve, provoke, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

When would exasperate be a good substitute for irritate?

The meanings of exasperate and irritate largely overlap; however, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

When is nettle a more appropriate choice than irritate?

The words nettle and irritate can be used in similar contexts, but nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

When might peeve be a better fit than irritate?

While the synonyms peeve and irritate are close in meaning, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

When could provoke be used to replace irritate?

The words provoke and irritate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

When can rile be used instead of irritate?

In some situations, the words rile and irritate are roughly equivalent. However, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irritate Rochester recommends baby shampoo to get your hair and makeup brushes grease-free and without any additives that may irritate sensitive face skin. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 June 2025 Their loud calls might be irritating, but there’s a purpose behind all that buzzing. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2025 One person, however, admitted that they would have been irritated as well if a spouse changed the day’s plan without consulting them first. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 21 June 2025 Audience Fatigue Too much communication—emails, notifications and advertisements—can overwhelm and irritate your audience, leading to a sort of disengagement from the product. Khalid Al Awar, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for irritate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritate
Verb
  • Francie instantly annoys Nat by kissing Pete hello, and the two women start yelling at each other immediately.
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 27 June 2025
  • If visible bulbs and cables annoy you, these aren’t for you.
    Simon Hill, Wired News, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Be careful when using this method as wire hangers can sometimes scratch the porcelain.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
  • Independence Day While the rest of the films on this list surely make sense, some might be scratching their heads on why a sci-fi film is considered to be one of the greatest Fourth of July films ever made.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • While notification bundles were an option before, they were primarily used for messaging, and not all developers bothered.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
  • If Waldron wasn’t battered, then Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was hardly bothered.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Avoid using any type of metal tool or spatula to scrape the surface.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
  • National Weather Service radar is indicated that squall bands are starting to scrape the Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida coastlines.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Say your mother kept bugging you to change a bad habit.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • Next season is when all the little things start to bug me.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The straps are made from a breathable faux-leather material that won’t chafe or rub against the skin, and each buckle can be tightened to ensure a snug fit that won’t slide around while sightseeing.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2025
  • For a long time, some council members have chafed at the mayor’s authority and sought or tried to force a different power-sharing equation.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • There may be no animal that has been more revered and reviled, romanticized and persecuted, adopted and murdered than the coyote.
    Helen Whybrow July 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
  • Asylum seekers must prove their government is persecuting them or that they're being persecuted by someone who the government is unable or unwilling to stop.
    Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Arizona first baseman Josh Naylor was removed from the game in the seventh inning after apparently aggravating a right shoulder injury.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
  • Land-use experts warned that pushing the density levels too high would not only aggravate the surrounding neighborhoods but also potentially impact the project’s ability to be built.
    Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritate. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on irritate

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