: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce physical irritation
Synonyms
Examples of irritant in a Sentence
Noun
dust and other lung irritants
The delay was a minor irritant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
There is also video evidence of rioters carrying everything from stun guns, knives and batons to chemical irritants spray, sticks or even flags used to stab or strike any number of officers trying to protect the building that day.
—Will McDuffie, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Rice quat also helps to strengthen the skin barrier against external irritants.
—Holistapet, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Coughing is a bodily reflex that offers protection from germs or irritants.
—Claire Gillespie, Health, 17 Mar. 2024
Close your windows: Keeping windows closed during allergy season can also help keep irritants out of your home.
—USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
The skin has a permeable barrier, which prevents environmental irritants from harming you.
—Lisa Desantis, Health, 22 Mar. 2024
May Help Manage Pain One animal study found two different osha preparations reduced pain associated with touching something hot and chemical irritants.
—Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024
The gentle formula flushes out irritants and moisturizes dry nasal passages related to allergies, colds, flu, and sinusitis.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
What is certain is that his detention is yet another irritant in U.S.-Russian relations already at Cold War-like lows following the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
Some form of cleanup performed every six months will go a long way to keep your computer’s performance from becoming a constant irritant.
—Ken Colburn, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024
Anyone can experience contact dermatitis, especially if you are exposed to an irritant in a high enough concentration (such as to bleach or poison ivy).
—Amanda Gardner, Health, 4 Mar. 2024
Patrick Beverley has been described as an instigator, irritant, and pest not by his opponents but by his new teammates on the Milwaukee Bucks.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
China has repeatedly warned the United States to stop its support for Taiwan and the issue is a constant irritant in Sino-U.S. relations.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 Jan. 2024
Porter’s campaign ads focus on her reputation in Congress as an irritant to Washington’s entrenched political hierarchy, touting her as having an independent streak and not being beholden to corporate interests.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
Other potential causes include a potential allergy, an irritant exposure or a serious type of sun damage known as actinic damage.
—The Enquirer, 27 Jan. 2024
Noun
Ukraine has reported intensifying Russian uses of chemical weapons, beginning with irritants, but with the potential for the more lethal kinds of attacks that characterized the Syrian war.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
There is also video evidence of rioters carrying everything from stun guns, knives and batons to chemical irritants spray, sticks or even flags used to stab or strike any number of officers trying to protect the building that day.
—Will McDuffie, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Rice quat also helps to strengthen the skin barrier against external irritants.
—Holistapet, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Coughing is a bodily reflex that offers protection from germs or irritants.
—Claire Gillespie, Health, 17 Mar. 2024
Close your windows: Keeping windows closed during allergy season can also help keep irritants out of your home.
—USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
The skin has a permeable barrier, which prevents environmental irritants from harming you.
—Lisa Desantis, Health, 22 Mar. 2024
May Help Manage Pain One animal study found two different osha preparations reduced pain associated with touching something hot and chemical irritants.
—Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024
The gentle formula flushes out irritants and moisturizes dry nasal passages related to allergies, colds, flu, and sinusitis.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Schubert also attempted to punch the officer and only retreated from the fighting after he was sprayed with a chemical irritant, according to the release.
—Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
What is certain is that his detention is yet another irritant in U.S.-Russian relations already at Cold War-like lows following the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
Some form of cleanup performed every six months will go a long way to keep your computer’s performance from becoming a constant irritant.
—Ken Colburn, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024
Anyone can experience contact dermatitis, especially if you are exposed to an irritant in a high enough concentration (such as to bleach or poison ivy).
—Amanda Gardner, Health, 4 Mar. 2024
Patrick Beverley has been described as an instigator, irritant, and pest not by his opponents but by his new teammates on the Milwaukee Bucks.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
China has repeatedly warned the United States to stop its support for Taiwan and the issue is a constant irritant in Sino-U.S. relations.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 Jan. 2024
Porter’s campaign ads focus on her reputation in Congress as an irritant to Washington’s entrenched political hierarchy, touting her as having an independent streak and not being beholden to corporate interests.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
Other potential causes include a potential allergy, an irritant exposure or a serious type of sun damage known as actinic damage.
—The Enquirer, 27 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irritant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near irritant
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritant. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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