irritate
verb
ir·ri·tate
ˈir-ə-ˌtāt 
irritated; irritating
1
: to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in : annoy
2
: to induce irritability in or of
: to cause or induce displeasure or irritation
Synonyms
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
When applied topically, breast milk may ease irritating skin conditions, some data show.
—
Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Also, natural supplements like turmeric, magnesium, and omega fatty acids work systemically to reduce inflammatory chemicals irritating nerve endings.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
However, people can have allergic reactions to many ingredients, further irritating the mouth area.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Look for fragrance-free cleansers and avoid harsh scrubs or exfoliants, which can irritate already sensitive nipple skin, says Dr. Chang.
—Macaela MacKenzie, Allure, 5 Apr. 2024
But Take Note The formula for this Aveeno baby lotion contains alcohol, which some find irritating.
—Tanya Edwards, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
The Lakers don’t want any piece of this irritating cowbell of a team in the playoffs.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
Be sure to wear protective gear while doing this as the bugs' cocoons can irritate skin, too.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
May irritate your gut: Research has shown that tablets might cause abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Also, natural supplements like turmeric, magnesium, and omega fatty acids work systemically to reduce inflammatory chemicals irritating nerve endings.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
However, people can have allergic reactions to many ingredients, further irritating the mouth area.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Look for fragrance-free cleansers and avoid harsh scrubs or exfoliants, which can irritate already sensitive nipple skin, says Dr. Chang.
—Macaela MacKenzie, Allure, 5 Apr. 2024
But Take Note The formula for this Aveeno baby lotion contains alcohol, which some find irritating.
—Tanya Edwards, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
The Lakers don’t want any piece of this irritating cowbell of a team in the playoffs.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
Be sure to wear protective gear while doing this as the bugs' cocoons can irritate skin, too.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
May irritate your gut: Research has shown that tablets might cause abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 30 Mar. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near irritate
Cite this Entry
“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irritate
verb
ir·ri·tate
ˈir-ə-ˌtāt
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
irritated; irritating
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
: to induce irritation
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