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
Mecca Pryor, Essence, 6 Oct. 2025
Czuchry was both incredibly irritating and so very endearing as Rory's college boyfriend, Logan Huntzberger.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Always dilute apple cider vinegar with water and drink through a straw to avoid damaging tooth enamel and irritating the esophagus.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Adjective
Dermatologically tested and non-irritating, Coperni C+ is crafted from materials engineered to support both your skin and body, marking a bold new step in the future of functional fashion.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 6 Oct. 2025
Czuchry was both incredibly irritating and so very endearing as Rory's college boyfriend, Logan Huntzberger.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
Combining three different actives (AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs) in one product without totally irritating the skin seems like an impossible task, yet Some by Mi has accomplished it with this ease.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Always dilute apple cider vinegar with water and drink through a straw to avoid damaging tooth enamel and irritating the esophagus.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
-
Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Thankfully, the best faux garlands offer the look and oftentimes feel of the real thing without the sticky sap or annoying cleanup.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There's a lot of harsh words and harsh things that get said about people.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Applying it at the base of the plant before the first frost can protect the roots from harsh cold and keep the soil from freezing.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 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
-
The Dallas Cowboys have made some head-scratching moves in 2025 dating back to the preseason, which have both strengthened the interior of the defensive line but also added confusion about the future of the unit.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Many see Horton as only just scratching the surface.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Premier League has been a frustrating product this season.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Some of the diciest action – and most frustrating nights – for Powell involved sprinting across wet cobblestones or through a graveyard full of smoke in the dark.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Other government notices mentioned the size and rough location of the construction.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Yams tend to be white fleshed with a rough, brown exterior.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 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
-
Instead of pursuing chances to pitch reboots of Hollywood’s most beloved properties, scraping the bottom of the barrel might afford you more opportunities to make films that truly feel your own.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
-
There’s a lot of concern among professionals across the creative and media industries that generative AI tools are essentially stealing their work by scraping content available on the Internet.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share