1
as in annoying
causing annoyance
his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 irritating
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
In addition to their irritating, itchy bites, the insects can carry diseases like West Nile, which has been detected in Milwaukee County this year.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Aug. 2025
The right formula should define lashes without smudging, flaking, or irritating the eyes — and offer a finish that feels softer and more natural than traditional black.
—Claire Sullivan, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Adjective
Nor is Vance the first politician to vacation with an irritating retinue in tow.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
In addition to their irritating, itchy bites, the insects can carry diseases like West Nile, which has been detected in Milwaukee County this year.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
Wear loose, breathable clothing to avoid irritating or clogging your hair follicles.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Aug. 2025
The right formula should define lashes without smudging, flaking, or irritating the eyes — and offer a finish that feels softer and more natural than traditional black.
—Claire Sullivan, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
-
For those with allergies, these particles can be inhaled and trigger annoying symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, or itchy eyes.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Nadaly Cordless Vacuum Run the lightweight vacuum over hard floors and carpets to suck up dirt, dust, crumbs, and other debris — without an annoying cord to trail.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The once-beloved pastels will become harsh.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The pilgrimage, listed on the official calendar of jubilee events, comes as gay Catholics look to Pope Leo XIV to continue down the bold path of his predecessor to welcome into the church a group that has in the past faced alienation and sometimes harsh treatment.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lead with Gratitude and Grace Calling out someone for bothering you is always tricky.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
-
That appeared to be a distraction at times to Anisimova, who motioned to her team in the stands that something was bothering her during ball tosses for serves.—
Howard Fendrich,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The cats kept them up each night with their incessant whining and scratching at their doors.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
As a player just scratching the surface of his potential with so much still ahead of him, the coming months are critical to his hopes of landing an invite to Italy.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Her list continues with small but frustrating oversights.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But an early lead slipped away by halftime — and eventually turned into a frustrating 2-1 loss for Sporting at Children’s Mercy Park.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Homers reheat Royals’ cold offense The Royals’ offense has hit another rough patch.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Additionally, avoid using any pads or scrubbers with a rough surface that could damage the cabinet finish.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Some of those models make the curve tighter, bringing Bermuda into the path, and others give the storm a broader turn, potentially scraping as far as Puerto Rico.—
Alex Harris
Updated September 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Authors are suing tech firms for scraping their books.—
Don Markland,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That's depicted in a disturbing, if somewhat inscrutable, scene.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Possibly, something disturbing will occur because someone has decided to make emotional demands on you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share