irritating 1 of 2

Definition of irritatingnext

irritating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of irritate
1
2
as in scratching
to make sore by continued rubbing new shoes usually irritate my feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Adjective
Some have threatened to seek relief in courtrooms from the irritating happenings near their once-quiet homes. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026 Medicine for an irritating problem Incontinence is one thing. Ralph Jones, HubSpot, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Cold outdoor air plus active heat indoors can pull moisture from both the scalp and hair shaft, which can be irritating. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 29 Jan. 2026 But for most of us and in our daily lives, epistemic trespassing is simply irritating. Big Think, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
  • Highs come across with sharpness that doesn't stray toward annoying, and the mids are surprisingly full.
    Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
  • There’s still housing, meals, books and annoying fees.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Engineers have long searched for efficient electric alternatives that can survive the harsh conditions inside industrial systems.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Critics say the danger faced by agents whose names are made public is overblown, almost always limited to harsh and violent words lobbed from behind a laptop or phone screen.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Mass incarceration has led to a fast-growing bloc of citizens who either are legally barred from voting or have just stopped bothering.
    Kevin B. Smith, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Stop bothering me with things that don’t make sense.
    Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Use natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar to safely remove stains and grime without scratching the surface.
    Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Counsell, Hottovy, team president Jed Hoyer and many others in the organization believe that Cabrera was just scratching the surface last season.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Flagg finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but the Raptors’ eighth-best defense in the NBA sent multiple bodies at him throughout the game and presented an uncomfortable and frustrating playing experience for his first NBA game in Toronto.
    Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Caroline’s anguish and her ineffectuality at making progress in finding Gabriel make for some frustrating moments as a reader.
    John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • If that means getting rougher and going outside of the rules and expectations for appropriate use of force, that’s all fine.
    Bob Ortega, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The Dolphins went 7-10 and missed the playoffs last season, benching Tagovailoa in favor of Quinn Ewers for the final three games, ending a rough season for the former Alabama star.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • And also, Bill has to be home and also not bugging me.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Clara could hear Dune’s sister, Fern, in the background bugging Dune to resume their chess game.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The wet-look bob By scraping hair away from the face and gathering it at the back of the head, a slick wet-look bob is a chic way to disguise thinning hair.
    Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
  • There are 617 McDonald's restaurants in Ohio, according to the web scraping tool ScrapeHero.
    Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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