irritate
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
- aggravate
- annoy
- bother
- bug
- burn (up)
- chafe
- eat
- exasperate
- frost
- gall
- get
- grate
- gripe
- hack (off)
- irk
- itch
- nark [British]
- nettle
- peeve
- persecute
- pique
- put out
- rasp
- rile
- ruffle
- spite
- vex
Example Sentences
Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 If that’s the case, opt for this mineral option that won’t irritate your skin. ELLE, 24 June 2022 Level up your bathing routine with soaps that contain nourishing and natural ingredients that won’t irritate your skin! Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 June 2022 The essentials Arizona slide is waterproof, shockproof, and won't irritate your skin—with a molded footbed your feet will appreciate. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 May 2022 Made to easily remove even thicker, curly hair with absolute ease, this splurge-worthy hair remover applies the exact amount of pressure needed for a smooth and thorough shave that won't irritate skin. Isadora Baum, Allure, 5 May 2022 Bathing your pet frequently could also help, James says — but consult with your veterinarian to ensure that doing so won’t irritate the animal’s skin. Mimi Montgomery, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2022 Sensitive skin types should be wary as waxing can irritate skin. April Franzino, Good Housekeeping, 26 Apr. 2022 For one, dermatologists caution against showering with hot water, as hot water can irritate even otherwise healthy skin. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare
1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
irritate
verb
Medical Definition
irritate
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
irritate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoy
- bother
- persecute
- aggravate
- bug
- exasperate
- infuriate
- irk
- get
- rile
- vex
- itch
- eat
- anger
- worry
- spite
- chafe
- provoke
- grate
- pique
- tease
- ruffle
- peeve
- insult
- gripe
- plague
- nark
- gall
- get to
- offend
- wear on
- frost
- put out
- enrage
- harass
- nettle
- upset
- inflame
- nag
- rasp
- rub the wrong way
- burn (up)
- rouse
- get on one's nerves
- unsettle
- antagonize
- stick in one's craw
- heckle
- agitate
- set one's teeth on edge
- hack (off)
- pester
- hassle
- get one's goat
- badger
- rankle
- discomfort
- perturb
- enflame
- distress
- harry
- devil
- outrage
- roil
- bait
- affront
- unhinge
- disquiet
- madden
- miff
- incense
- exercise
- undo
- fret
- discompose
- bullyrag
- ballyrag
- hagride
- freak (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appease
- placate
- pacify
- oblige
- conciliate
- please
- delight
- satisfy
- mollify
- gratify
- assure
- soothe
- propitiate
- reassure
- gladden
- cheer
- comfort
- content
- quiet
- console
- solace
Synonyms & Similar Words
- scratch
- excoriate
- chafe
- abrade
- scrape
- inflame
- skin
- fret
- gall
- graze
- burn
- enflame
- peel
- flay
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of irritate are exasperate, nettle, peeve, provoke, and rile. While all these words 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.
The meanings of exasperate and irritate largely overlap; however, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.
The words nettle and irritate can be used in similar contexts, but nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.
While the synonyms peeve and irritate are close in meaning, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.
The words provoke and irritate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.
In some situations, the words rile and irritate are roughly equivalent. However, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.