1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irritate
However, their acid can sometimes irritate a sore throat.
—
Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
The texture is rich and creamy, though it is notably fragranced, which may irritate those with very sensitive skin.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026
But unfortunately, some forms can be irritating, especially when skin is sensitive or reactive.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
The song, which reclaims a derogatory term for Venezuelan female migrants, was interpreted as defiant and irritated the Venezuelan president, then facing widespread reports of electoral fraud.
—Leonor C. Suárez, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritate
Verb
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She’d been awakened by their puppy, and had been annoyed at Ryan, who hadn’t gotten up early with the dog like he was supposed to.—
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Kelce was evaluated for a concussion in the locker room, and he was annoyed at having to answer the questions that are part of the test.—
Verb
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If large stuck-on food chunks remain, carefully scrape them off with a razor blade, being mindful not to scratch the stovetop.—
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Bright and spellbinding, glittering and dangerous, London Falling scratches every itch while unwinding this morbid mystery.—
Verb
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Take a seat on an icy throne—the cold never bothered you anyway.—
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Don’t bother wasting your money—using it more than once a day won’t yield ‘better’ or faster results.—
Verb
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Stokes, who seldom completes a five-Test series these days, had dragged his creaking, aching body through almost five full matches of hard, hot, energy-sapping cricket, like scraping butter over too much bread, but somehow soldiering on.—
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Restaurant staff scrape uneaten food from plates into a compost bin.—
Verb
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That thing’s been bugging on him for a while.—
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Check the head and base and foot of the bed, peeling back the top sheet to look for evidence on mattress covers, box springs, dust ruffles, and the headboard—and most importantly, the mattress seams and piping because bed bugs like to hide in cracks and crevices.—
Verb
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The state’s changes to the rates chafed some local districts’ officials, including fire districts that fretted about affording equipment and firefighters as risks from wildfires loomed large year-round.—
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Her choice of words often chafed Party leaders.—
Verb
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Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.—
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Most commonly, people felt they were being persecuted via their electronics – that their Wi-Fi networks, computers or cellphones had been hacked or implanted with tracking devices.—
Verb
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The model comes with three attachments, including a crevice tool that helps remove allergy-aggravating dust, pet hair, and debris.—
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The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't make any moves at the NFL trade deadline, aggravating their fanbase in the process.—
Cite this Entry
“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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