Synonyms of irritating

irritating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ 

1

as in annoying

causing annoyance

his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoying
• frustrating
• disturbing
• aggravating
• exasperating
• irksome
• maddening
• bothersome
• abrasive
• vexing
• painful
• vexatious
• pesky
• nettlesome
• pestiferous
• pestilential
• galling
• distractive
• rebarbative
• pesty
• nettling
• peeving
• chafing
• infuriating
• plaguey
• pestilent
• rankling
• carking
• troublesome
• riling
• stressful
• troubling
• displeasing
• biting
• mischievous
• importunate
• discomforting
• burdensome
• distressing
• disquieting
• upsetting
• tiresome
• offensive
• enraging
• inconveniencing
• worrisome
• angering
• trying
• jarring
• importune
• bratty
• thorny
• grating
• brattish
• spiny
• jangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasing

2

as in harsh

causing an unpleasant tingling sensation

this soap leaves a residue that might be a little irritating if you have sensitive skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harsh
• rough
• coarse
• itchy
• scratchy
• prickly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soft
• silky
• soothing
• silken

irritating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of irritate

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

• annoying
• bothering
• bugging
• persecuting
• aggravating
• exasperating
• infuriating
• getting
• vexing
• irking
• grating
• itching
• eating
• nettling
• worrying
• griping
• angering
• chafing
• galling
• burning (up)
• ruffling
• spiting
• riling
• rasping
• peeving
• teasing
• frosting
• insulting
• hacking (off)
• plaguing
• getting to
• narking
• piquing
• wearing on
• provoking
• putting out
• upsetting
• harassing
• nagging
• enraging
• rubbing the wrong way
• sticking in one's craw
• getting on one's nerves
• offending
• hassling
• setting one's teeth on edge
• heckling
• getting one's goat
• maddening
• unsettling
• badgering
• pestering
• distressing
• rousing
• discomforting
• antagonizing
• inflaming
• agitating
• perturbing
• disquieting
• harrying
• baiting
• incensing
• outraging
• rankling
• affronting
• roiling
• undoing
• fretting
• exercising
• bullyragging
• unhinging
• hagriding
• freaking (out)
• deviling
• discomposing
• miffing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obliging
• gratifying
• pacifying
• appeasing
• satisfying
• placating
• pleasing
• conciliating
• delighting
• mollifying
• reassuring
• comforting
• soothing
• assuring
• propitiating
• cheering
• consoling
• quieting
• contenting
• gladdening
• solacing

2

as in scratching

to make sore by continued rubbing

new shoes usually irritate my feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scratching
• scraping
• chafing
• fretting
• galling
• excoriating
• abrading
• burning
• peeling
• grazing
• skinning
• inflaming
• flaying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of irritating

Adjective

Sutherland further emphasizes this point, saying that calcium and magnesium in hard water can be absorbed into the cotton, making the towels stiff and irritating. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026

Like nails on a chalkboard, whining—an irritating blend of talking and crying—has the ability to make almost any parent either lose their temper or cave. — Debby Waldman, Parents, 3 Aug. 2026

Verb

Aspell, the deputy executive officer, acknowledged that the lung-irritating chemical continues to be a concern. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

It’s also formulated without potentially irritating ingredients like phthalates, parabens and mineral oil. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026