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
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Wear gloves to avoid irritating your skin.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 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
The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Wear gloves to avoid irritating your skin.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
-
For Blashill, the Blackhawks’ identity is being really, really annoying.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Sharon is extremely annoying, but my heart does break for her a tiny bit here.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of buying special cleaners or reaching for harsh chemicals to clean around your home, look to your medicine cabinet for a solution.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And that’s just scratching the surface.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But the recent trip left the team scratching their heads at the sight of blue canines.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Filling up your tank can be a frustrating experience in today's economy, and the Sonata Hybrid limits that experience.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Mixed messaging from the federal and state government has been frustrating for recipients.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This usually happens for a variety of reasons, including love biting, fear, anxiety, being a pet, frustration, rough play, social pressure, illness, or pain.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The Dolphins won six of eight after that rough start last season, and the team hopes that turnaround can be duplicated.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Time to start bugging a friend with Hulu + Live TV instead or invest in an antenna.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Co-worker bugging you during heads down time?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stir in a splash of sherry vinegar, cook for another minute, then slowly stir in chicken broth, scraping up any pan drippings that have gathered along the surface of the skillet.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Nov. 2025
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Two childhood friends now must face off from opposite sides – Sam, the daughter of a poor single mother scraping toward a better life in Grand Central, and Ari, a Lumines prodigy.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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