IRRITATED Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

irritated 1 of 2

adjective

ˈir-ə-ˌtā-təd

Definition of irritated

as in annoyed

subjected to and reacting with irritation irritated viewers were bombarding the station with complaints about the game's delayed start

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

irritated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of irritate

as in bothered

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scratched

to make sore by continued rubbing new shoes usually irritate my feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 irritated

Adjective

Pavitt says that the last treatment should focus on keeping the skin hydrated and healthy and avoid any kind of extractions or peels that might possibly leave the skin red or irritated. — Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 23 July 2026 With a red category, people can experience irritated eyes, nose or throat; coughing; chest tightness or shortness of breath. — Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 19 July 2026

Verb

It is expected that Mourinho will try to tighten control over leaks concerning internal dressing-room matters, something that has irritated the club this season — and which Alonso sought to tackle. — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 29 May 2026 Even though the calf irritated him over the weekend, the ankle is still the primary problem. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritated

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritated

Adjective

Economists and the commentariat, playing the role of the annoyed parent, point out that over-all employment has been strong for a while.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 28 July 2026
Whatever the yellow jersey’s feelings, teams were annoyed, often more privately than publicly.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of annoyed

Verb

That’s exactly what happened Sunday afternoon, when Rushing was scratched with an arm irritation.

— Katie Woo, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
The August board meeting agenda had a line item to discuss the draft of the letter, but Cameron announced at the beginning of the gathering that it was scratched.

— Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of scratched

Adjective

These were voices—complaining, confiding, exasperated, distressed—that had not been heard before, as if the novel were a speaking tube cued to an underground rumble.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Jack Loder, a clearly exasperated digital content producer for the Giants’ flagship station KNBR, posted a two-minute video on X shortly after the game that singled out Webb for criticism.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of exasperated

Verb

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a law-enforcement agency known as NABU, had bugged Mindich’s apartment in Kyiv, and detectives picked up his conversations about Fire Point.

— Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
The group alleged that as well as hacking their phones, journalists from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday tapped landlines and bugged houses and cars.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026

Definition of bugged

Verb

After two lawsuits were filed against the state over the cut to the program, lawmakers scraped together funding to bring it back this legislative session.

— Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026
The public internet has been scraped, licensing deals are expensive and slow, and synthetic data drifts away from reality when a model learns mostly from itself.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of scraped

Verb

Although the two programs similarly target humanitarian concerns, being a TPS holder does not guarantee asylum, which requires that applicants prove they’ve been persecuted on specific grounds.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026
In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.

— Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026

Definition of persecuted

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“Irritated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritated. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of irritated

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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