1
as in annoying
causing annoyance
his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bothering
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irritating
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
Formulated in Korea with natural, non-irritating ingredients suitable for sensitive skin, the face masks are the first example, infusing hydrating and calming ingredients such as Vitamin B12 and aloe.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Always dilute apple cider vinegar with water and drink through a straw to avoid damaging tooth enamel and irritating the esophagus.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritating
Adjective
Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Jonathan and Jordan Knight half-rap over an irritating electronic backbeat like wannabe Beastie Boys.
—Verb
Combining three different actives (AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs) in one product without totally irritating the skin seems like an impossible task, yet Some by Mi has accomplished it with this ease.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
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Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.—
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Thankfully, the best faux garlands offer the look and oftentimes feel of the real thing without the sticky sap or annoying cleanup.—
Adjective
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Bipartisan harsh criticism Senators from both sides of the aisle blasted the investigation.—
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Common exfoliators and fine line-eliminators like retinol and glycolic acid are too harsh on my skin, but this serum utilizes lactic acid, which is far more gentle but just as potent.—
Verb
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Ibrahim keeps bothering me endlessly, touching my leg and thigh.—
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Ask her if anything is bothering her.—
Verb
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The best vacuums for hardwood floors have a powerful cleaning performance without scratching or causing damage.—
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That pollen can fill the air, covers cars and cement, and can start noses running, eyes watering and throats scratching.—
Adjective
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For athletes, the C1 solves a frustrating, age-old problem.—
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The reality is that traditional investigative journalism is a frequently boring and frustrating endeavor that takes a lot of time, money, and patience.—
Adjective
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The Heat’s rough night began with a disastrous start, trailing 36-12 just 10 minutes into the contest.—
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Marty’s face prominently features a scar on his cheekbone and additional scarring under his chin, suggesting a rough life.—
Verb
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That thing’s been bugging on him for a while.—
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Then Julian dropped one of his wireless earbuds into Olympia’s purse, using it as a crude bugging device.—
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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Reinforcing Data Risk and Privacy Over the past three years, Jain has been using her skills as part of Meta’s anti-scraping initiative.—
Cite this Entry
“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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