1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Products in skincare videos studied had an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients.
—
wendy Wisner, Parents, 10 June 2025
Chemical irritants Law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles have also turned to chemical irritant devices, which rely on chemical compounds to irritate the sinuses, lungs and skin, causing enough pain to render someone temporarily unable to function.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 June 2025
Its use is generally recommended no more than once per week, as using too many products at once can irritate the skin.1
What to Use Before Bed
At nighttime, your skin-care routine steps should consist of the following:3
Cleanse to remove makeup, products, dirt, and bacteria.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025
Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump initially tapped to co-lead DOGE, pushed for an expansion of the program as way to attract global talent, irritating immigration hawks in the conservative movement.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritate
wendy Wisner, Parents, 10 June 2025
Chemical irritants Law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles have also turned to chemical irritant devices, which rely on chemical compounds to irritate the sinuses, lungs and skin, causing enough pain to render someone temporarily unable to function.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 June 2025
Its use is generally recommended no more than once per week, as using too many products at once can irritate the skin.1
What to Use Before Bed
At nighttime, your skin-care routine steps should consist of the following:3
Cleanse to remove makeup, products, dirt, and bacteria.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025
Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump initially tapped to co-lead DOGE, pushed for an expansion of the program as way to attract global talent, irritating immigration hawks in the conservative movement.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritate
Verb
-
If your idea of patience looks like being endlessly agreeable, never getting annoyed, and staying calm through any inconvenience….—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
17 June 2025
-
We get used to it quickly, and will be annoyed when it is replaced.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
Avoid using abrasive cleaners, like scouring pads or steel wool, as these can scratch the surface.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
23 June 2025
-
This can include scratching granular fertilizer into the soil around the base of your plants, watering with compost tea or fish emulsion, or top dressing with a fresh layer of compost—just be sure to pay attention to the specific needs of the different plants in your garden.—
Mike Irvine,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2025
Verb
-
Also on this episode: With Emmy nomination voting ending on Monday, the Roundtable takes one more look at the major categories, how the number of submissions has changed some of the competition and who didn’t bother to join in.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
20 June 2025
-
Orban said in February that organisers should not even bother organizing Pride in Budapest this year.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
Beat eggs, sugar, espresso granules, and vanilla with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until thick and fluffy, 8 to 10 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
24 June 2025
-
Meanwhile, emerging managers are scraping to survive and define their edge.—
Alex Lazarow,
Forbes.com,
20 June 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
-
Plus, this vest comes with some nice practical perks—its breathable neoprene straps won’t chafe on long walks and its back pockets will keep your essentials handy.—
Sara Coughlin,
SELF,
16 June 2025
-
The nation’s founders, having chafed under the abuses of George III, understood the twin dangers of an unchecked chief executive and a standing military.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
With his penchant for menacing models, black-out contact lenses and jutting shoulders, Owens is also a forever torchbearer for different kinds of beauty, and a safe haven for people who feel persecuted for being outside the norm.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 June 2025
-
The regimes that persecute religious minorities are also the ones that oppress women, LGBTQ people, journalists, and dissidents.—
Nuri Kino,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 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
Cite this Entry
“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share