itch
1 of 2verb
ˈich 
itched; itching; itches
intransitive verb
1
a
: to have an itch
her arm itched
b
: to produce an itchy sensation
long underwear that itches
2
: to have a restless desire or hankering for something
were itching to go outside
transitive verb
1
: to cause to itch
2
: vex, irritate
itch
2 of 2noun
1
a
: an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors
b
: a skin disorder accompanied by such a sensation
especially : a contagious eruption caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching
2
a
: a restless usually constant often compulsive desire
an itch to travel
b
: lust, prurience
itchiness
ˈi-chē-nəs
noun itchy
ˈi-chē
adjective 
Synonyms
Verb
- aggravate
- annoy
- bother
- bug
- burn (up)
- chafe
- eat
- exasperate
- frost
- gall
- get
- grate
- gripe
- hack (off)
- irk
- irritate
- nark [British]
- nettle
- peeve
- persecute
- pique
- put out
- rasp
- rile
- ruffle
- spite
- vex
Noun
- concupiscence
- desire
- eroticism
- horniness
- hots
- lech
- letch
- libidinousness
- lust
- lustfulness
- lustihood
- passion
- salaciousness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb His eyes began to burn and itch because of his allergies. This sweater makes me itch. Noun I had a slight itch on my back. Scratching only makes the itch worse. She's always had an itch for adventure. He has an itch to travel. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022 If the bites itch, apply the product one to two times daily. Daryl Perry, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2022 If all went well, my bug bites would no longer itch, my cheeks would glow and my sneakers would smell like a florist shop and not a den of skunks. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 2 June 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2022 Within a matter of minutes, the bite can begin to itch or change colors, becoming darker, harder, or more swollen over the course of the next few days, according to the CDC. Eleesha Lockett, SELF, 8 June 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 2 June 2022 Kate Dingwall, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 Scratch the itch with one of the best travel books of 2022 — so far. Jen Rose Smith, Washington Post, 19 May 2022 Now that the brand has branched out beyond printed tees, McLachlan scratches his graphic design itch by creating intricate, individualized labels for his products. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2022 With approximately 68,000 miles on its odometer and a recent timing belt replacement, this 928S4 ought to have no trouble reliably scratching your grand touring itch. Greg Fink, Car and Driver, 27 July 2022 This podcast scratches my every itch, with brilliant explanations of science and health, hilarious commentary by Ward, plus some serious moments in between. Sarah Mupo, STAT, 8 July 2022 For anyone who loves stop-motion animation, the first 40 minutes of this bleak adventure will scratch your trippy itch and then some. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 10 June 2022 As conveyed above, Locke was an attempt to scratch my own itch. Laura Parker, Forbes, 18 May 2022 Start with Sanditon, and then check out these TV shows and movies that will totally scratch your Bridgerton itch. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2022 See More
Verb
TikTok user Pop Kitchen from Parade's Taco Bell copycat pizza can satisfy that Taco Bell itch right at home with these ingredients. Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022 If the bites itch, apply the product one to two times daily. Daryl Perry, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2022 If all went well, my bug bites would no longer itch, my cheeks would glow and my sneakers would smell like a florist shop and not a den of skunks. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 2 June 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2022 Within a matter of minutes, the bite can begin to itch or change colors, becoming darker, harder, or more swollen over the course of the next few days, according to the CDC. Eleesha Lockett, SELF, 8 June 2022 But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 2 June 2022 Noun
Ghia makes beautiful sparkling aperitifs, as does Giglia – both scratch an itch for both alcohol replacements or soda alternatives. Kate Dingwall, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 Scratch the itch with one of the best travel books of 2022 — so far. Jen Rose Smith, Washington Post, 19 May 2022 Now that the brand has branched out beyond printed tees, McLachlan scratches his graphic design itch by creating intricate, individualized labels for his products. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2022 With approximately 68,000 miles on its odometer and a recent timing belt replacement, this 928S4 ought to have no trouble reliably scratching your grand touring itch. Greg Fink, Car and Driver, 27 July 2022 This podcast scratches my every itch, with brilliant explanations of science and health, hilarious commentary by Ward, plus some serious moments in between. Sarah Mupo, STAT, 8 July 2022 For anyone who loves stop-motion animation, the first 40 minutes of this bleak adventure will scratch your trippy itch and then some. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 10 June 2022 As conveyed above, Locke was an attempt to scratch my own itch. Laura Parker, Forbes, 18 May 2022 Start with Sanditon, and then check out these TV shows and movies that will totally scratch your Bridgerton itch. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English icchen, from Old English giccan; akin to Old High German jucchen to itch
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing itch
Kids Definition
itch 1 of 2
verb
ˈich
itched; itching
1
: to have or produce an unpleasant feeling that causes a desire to scratch
My nose itches.
2
: to have a strong desire
The kids at my school are ALWAYS itching to see a fight. Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kiditch
2 of 2noun
1
: an unpleasant feeling that causes a desire to scratch
2
: a skin disorder in which an itch is present
3
: a restless usually constant desire
an itch to travel
Medical Definition
itch
noun
ˈich
1
: an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors
2
: a skin disorder accompanied by an itch
especially : a contagious eruption caused by an itch mite of the genus Sarcoptes (S. scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching
itching 1 of 2
adjective
as in bleeding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bleeding
- prickling
- smarting
- burning
- nagging
- stinging
- pinching
- cramping
- chafing
- pricking
- inflamed
- swollen
- festering
- enflamed
- threatening
- severe
- aching
- sore
- damaging
- hurting
- painful
- agonizing
- wounding
- raw
- harmful
- tender
- detrimental
- grievous
- injurious
- achy
- excruciating
- pernicious
- torturous
- noxious
- hurtful
- deleterious
- afflictive
- nasty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- helping
- painless
- healing
- indolent
- remedial
- curative
itching
2 of 2verb
as in bugging
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts don't let her snide put-downs and wisecracks itch you—just ignore her Synonyms & Similar Words
- bugging
- irritating
- bothering
- annoying
- getting
- persecuting
- aggravating
- chafing
- eating
- griping
- exasperating
- teasing
- worrying
- irking
- nettling
- vexing
- infuriating
- riling
- grating
- peeving
- rasping
- plaguing
- ruffling
- nagging
- piquing
- angering
- provoking
- galling
- spiting
- frosting
- getting to
- narking
- wearing on
- putting out
- harassing
- insulting
- inflaming
- burning (up)
- rubbing the wrong way
- agitating
- getting on one's nerves
- hassling
- pestering
- hacking (off)
- sticking in one's craw
- offending
- rousing
- upsetting
- distressing
- badgering
- getting one's goat
- discomforting
- enraging
- maddening
- heckling
- setting one's teeth on edge
- enflaming
- antagonizing
- harrying
- rankling
- unsettling
- fretting
- exercising
- baiting
- bullyragging
- disquieting
- roiling
- incensing
- discomposing
- ballyragging
- devilling
- outraging
- undoing
- deviling
- affronting
- perturbing
- unhinging
- hagriding
- miffing
- freaking (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gratifying
- appeasing
- satisfying
- delighting
- pleasing
- pacifying
- placating
- obliging
- mollifying
- soothing
- conciliating
- cheering
- propitiating
- reassuring
- comforting
- assuring
- quieting
- contenting
- consoling
- gladdening
- solacing