irritant

1 of 2

noun

ir·​ri·​tant ˈir-ə-tənt 

: something that irritates or excites

irritant

2 of 2

adjective

: causing irritation

specifically : tending to produce physical irritation

Synonyms

Noun

• aggravation
• aggro [British]
• annoyance
• bother
• botheration
• bugbear
• exasperation
• frustration
• hair shirt
• hassle
• headache
• inconvenience
• irk
• nuisance
• peeve
• pest
• rub
• ruffle
• thorn
• trial
• vexation

Examples of irritant in a Sentence

Noun

dust and other lung irritants

The delay was a minor irritant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Designed with sensitive skin in mind, this lippie is free from fragrance, essential oils, flavor and other common irritants. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Gentle, cleansing baths can help ease skin irritation and clear pollen and other irritants from fur as well. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025

Adjective

The move is part of a growing trend that Major League Baseball hopes will help combat a longstanding irritant for fans: blackouts. —Evan Drellich, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025

What To Know The Center for Countering Disinformation, a branch of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said on Wednesday that Russia was using CS gas, an irritant chemical, in its Shahed explosive drones. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1802, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1636, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

irritant

1 of 2 adjective

ir·​ri·​tant ˈir-ə-tənt 

: tending to produce anger, annoyance, impatience, soreness, or inflammation

especially : tending to produce physical irritation

irritant

2 of 2 noun

: something that irritates

Medical Definition

irritant

1 of 2 adjective

ir·​ri·​tant ˈir-ə-tənt 

: causing irritation

specifically : tending to produce inflammation

irritant

2 of 2 noun

: something that irritates or excites

specifically : an agent by which irritation is produced

a chemical irritant