1
as in annoying
causing annoyance
his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bothering
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irritating
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
No doubt, that must be quite irritating for Newcastle to hear.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
Generally, mineral sunscreens are beloved by dermatologists for not irritating sensitive skin, the way chemical sunscreens can.
—Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Adjective
The more irritating the characters get, the more compelling the movie becomes.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
No doubt, that must be quite irritating for Newcastle to hear.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Wear gloves to avoid irritating your skin.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
Generally, mineral sunscreens are beloved by dermatologists for not irritating sensitive skin, the way chemical sunscreens can.
—Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
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Glass water repellent acts as a protective barrier that causes rain droplets or water to roll away instead of drying and sticking to your glass (then causing those annoying spots).—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
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They were not allowed to stay in private homes — annoying for sometime Paris resident Serena Williams — but could eat out at Paris restaurants.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Why do some chocolate bars exhibit complex flavor notes like floral, caramel, and gentle woody, while others taste harsh, bitter, and astringent?—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
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Where rallies are taking place Nearly daily protests in metro Detroit this year have been observed as being peaceful, though sometimes Trump supporters and protesters exchange harsh words.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The dog recognizes that something is amiss, but isn’t capable of understanding what’s really bothering Todd.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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The injury that will sideline Herro to begin this season is one that had been bothering him for a few months.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An old rag leaves behind streaks and lint, and a sponge can be abrasive, scratching the glass surface.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
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The procedure prevents the cat from being able to extend their claws, and is usually done to prevent them from scratching people, other animals, or furniture.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had another frustrating game with three interceptions in the one-score loss.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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Sure, Riley’s first three seasons with the Trojans have been largely underwhelming — and a last-second loss to Illinois was the sort of defeat that’s become all too familiar and all too frustrating for the fan base — but USC’s coach is far too expensive to fire.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There was obvious rust, and the shooting efficiency was rough, as Ball converted only 36% from the field.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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The Dallas Cowboys' already rough defense took an unexpected hit Friday because of an at-home injury.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Co-worker bugging you during heads down time?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Add trinity mix and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring often, until softened and scraping up any brown bits on bottom of pan, 8 to 10 minutes.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
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Beat until combined, scraping bowl as needed.—
Jenavieve Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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