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irritation

noun

ˌir-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce irritation (audio)
Definition of irritationnext
as in frustration
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts Dad's general irritation at the incessant complaining coming from the back seat of the car

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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 irritation Poor water quality at home can worsen existing issues or create new ones, including dryness, irritation, and dullness. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2026 Possible issues associated with consuming too much of the spice include allergic reactions that can range from mild irritation to serious symptoms; stomach pain; and potential adverse interactions with medications such as blood thinners. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026 Officials said ozone can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain, trigger asthma and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026 His wife watches and listens with obvious fondness in her eyes but also an inscrutable hint of emotional detachment, perhaps even irritation. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritation
  1. frustration
  2. exasperation
  3. annoyance
  4. displeasure
  5. grief
Noun
  • Officials familiar with the higher casualty number expressed frustration that the additional loss of life is not reflected in the Pentagon's public casualty portal.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Because the therapy is off-label, insurance routinely denies coverage, forcing clinicians and patients to improvise — a frustration that Dombo experienced firsthand.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • Foulkes leveraged public exasperation over the cost and pace of the bridge project for her argument that McKee’s administration isn’t working for most Rhode Islanders.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
  • By the 11th game of the third set, Keys was hitting herself in the head with her racket, taking her cap off and sighing deep breaths that were either meant to steady her or out of exasperation.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of exasperation
Noun
  • People are exhausted by subscriptions, signing up for apps, logins, passwords, and other first-world annoyances that are now common in the search to watch a game on TV.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ninety-two percent of customers expect quick responses, and the number one customer service annoyance is long wait times.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of annoyance
Noun
  • Coaches remember Lassiter voicing his displeasure afterward — with himself.
    — Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Shanahan, whose team also must travel to play a game in Mexico this season, was not shy about voicing his displeasure.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of displeasure
Noun
  • Duarte’s writing features detailed prose and a moving storyline, encompassing grief, healing, and the losses borne by a Latinx family in the name of American patriotism.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • State prosecutors told the court that although the attorney general understands the defendant's grief, the case must proceed as a matter of public interest.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of grief

Browse Nearby Words

irritatingly
irritation
irritations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Irritation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritation. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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