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
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The fourth century’s Cassian of Imola—patron saint of shorthand writers and court reporters, and apparently a strict teacher—was so irritating that a judge condemned him to be tortured to death by his own students, who stabbed him with their styli and school supplies.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Michael Prinzing, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Passive aggression can be irritating.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Adjective
Some viewers will know Rapaport from his decadeslong acting career but also that one very irritating season of Justified; others will know him for his anti-Palestinian rants and hatred of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The fourth century’s Cassian of Imola—patron saint of shorthand writers and court reporters, and apparently a strict teacher—was so irritating that a judge condemned him to be tortured to death by his own students, who stabbed him with their styli and school supplies.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
Patience is possible only when something irritating or difficult is happening.
—Michael Prinzing, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Passive aggression can be irritating.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
-
Garlic supplements and dietary garlic can have health benefits, and a few annoying side effects, like bad breath and stomach upset.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Patriots’ fans view Sunday as an annoying calisthenic, if not a joke.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Before Getting Started When cleaning your oven, try to avoid using harsh oven cleaners or using the self-cleaning feature.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The origin of clemency is understood through the Federalist Papers as a need for mercy in instances when the criminal justice system was too harsh.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Is a man bothering you at a bar?—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The best vacuums for hardwood floors have a powerful cleaning performance without scratching or causing damage.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
6 Jan. 2026
-
That pollen can fill the air, covers cars and cement, and can start noses running, eyes watering and throats scratching.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The redshirt senior quarterback is the crown jewel of the Knights’ 2026 transfer class, bringing with him the hope of improvement from a frustrating 5-7 season in 2025.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sees expanding MARTA into Cobb and Gwinnett counties as a key step toward better regional connection, while metro Atlanta residents continue to struggle with traffic congestion that’s both frustrating and dangerous.—
Riley Bunch,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The lynchpin to it all is recognizing that 69% of gross domestic product, a rough though imperfect measure of the economy, is consumer spending.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The hilarious ensemble comedy plays out during a dinner party between a couple who are going through a rough patch and their upstairs neighbors, who turn out to be swingers.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That thing’s been bugging on him for a while.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
29 Dec. 2025
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Then Julian dropped one of his wireless earbuds into Olympia’s purse, using it as a crude bugging device.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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While the Nuggets as a whole may be hitting a wall — or scraping it, at least — since losing star center Nikola Jokic late last month, Watson has cowboyed up in a big way.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
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The train’s cars spray a de-icing solution on the third rail while scraping off any accumulation.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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