irritate

verb

ir·​ri·​tate ˈir-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce irritate (audio)
irritated; irritating

transitive verb

1
: to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in : annoy
2
: to induce irritability in or of

intransitive verb

: to cause or induce displeasure or irritation
Choose the Right Synonym for irritate

irritate, exasperate, nettle, provoke, rile, peeve mean to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance.

irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

Examples of irritate in a Sentence

It's his arrogance that really irritates me. The other passengers were irritated by the child's rudeness. Harsh soaps can irritate the skin.
Recent Examples on the Web Some research has suggested that nutritional yeast may be irritating to those with Crohn's disease and other types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 But some contain ingredients that can irritate young skin, dermatologists said. Katie Mogg, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024 In recent years, Russia and Cuba have strengthened military and diplomatic ties, and since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the pace of the exchanges has dramatically increased, a development that has irritated the U.S. government. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024 There is a bracing frankness to Mr. Favor — about people who irritate him, about his own trauma and struggles. John Leland, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 This underwear is often seamless, high-waisted, and specifically designed to avoid irritating potential C-section scars, help with absorption for postpartum periods, and help offer compression for extra support as your body starts to adjust back post-baby. Nikita Charuza, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 This sunscreen is free of parabens, oxybenzone, and octinoxate, which can be irritating to babies’ skin. Ambrosia V. Brody, Parents, 20 Feb. 2024 Hormonal Changes and Gingivitis Other factors that affect hormone levels, which may increase blood flow to and irritate your gums, include:3 Birth control pills: These pills contain estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). Sarah Bradley, Health, 15 Feb. 2024 The chemicals used to create synthetic fillings might irritate your skin. Brianna Kamienski, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irritate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of irritate was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near irritate

Cite this Entry

“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

irritate

verb
ir·​ri·​tate ˈir-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce irritate (audio)
irritated; irritating
1
: to cause impatience, anger, or displeasure in : annoy
were irritated by the child's rudeness
2
: to make sore or inflamed
harsh soaps can irritate the skin

Medical Definition

irritate

verb
ir·​ri·​tate ˈir-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce irritate (audio)
irritated; irritating

transitive verb

1
: to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in
2
: to cause (an organ or tissue) to be irritable : produce irritation in
harsh soaps may irritate the skin
3
: to produce excitation in (as a nerve) : cause (as a muscle) to contract

intransitive verb

: to induce irritation

More from Merriam-Webster on irritate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!