as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
the whining child was a constant irritant to his long-suffering parents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irritant
Have protective goggles or shatter-resistant glasses (for tear gas or irritants).
—
Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit that police used excessive force and violated their constitutional rights by deploying tear gas, chemical irritants, projectiles, grenades and pepper spray.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Dirty clothing can also cause or worsen rashes in some people, depending on which skin irritants are lingering in your clothes.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
These include drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding irritants such as scented soaps and using over-the-counter pain relievers.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritant
Noun
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The illness tends to come on abruptly, with symptoms including fever, sore throat, headaches and fatigue.—
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Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.—
Noun
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An Orange County judge granted the city of Santa Ana’s request for a preliminary injunction against several businesses on East First Street accused of being public nuisances.—
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According to the American Mosquito Control Association, mosquitoes are not only a nuisance but also a public health concern, capable of carrying diseases like West Nile virus.—
Noun
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Make sure to wear leather gloves to protect your hands from rose thorns.—
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Season 1 detailed how Robby—a crinkle-eyed stalwart whose stethoscope seems made of thorns—was still suffering from PTSD from his experiences working during the coronavirus pandemic, while a violent attack from a patient made the otherwise flinty Dana reconsider whether her job was still bearable.—
Noun
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British officials downplayed the pause as temporary, insisting momentum would resume amid complex negotiations, but the impasse signals broader frustrations with Europe’s regulatory posture toward American innovation, market access, and economic sovereignty.—
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Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
Noun
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Congress used to debate authorizing such things, but with the GOP House and Senate now reduced to glorified White House staff offices, Trump need not trifle with such annoyances.—
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At the time, liberalism’s leading intellectuals laughed off public annoyance at Obama’s lackluster performance, declaring that to expect big things from him was to believe—childishly, contemptibly—that the president was a kind of superhero.—
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritant. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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