irritantnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈɪr.ɪ.tənt/us/ˈɪr.ə.t̬ənt/irritant noun [ C ] (MAKING ANGRY)
something that causes trouble or makes you annoyed:
The report is bound to add a new irritant to international relations.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Difficult things and people
- a (heavy) cross to bear idiom
- a bitter pill (to swallow) idiom
- a hard/tough nut to crack idiom
- albatross
- bane
- chill
- equation
- handicap
- hiccup
- hot potato
- impediment
- job
- labyrinth
- liability
- nut
- the chill wind of sth idiom
- the hard way idiom
- the sharp end
- the/a devil of a sth idiom
- thorn in your flesh/side idiom
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irritant noun [ C ] (MAKING SORE)
a substance that makes part of your body sore or painful:
Pollen is an irritant, causing red and sore eyes in sensitive people.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Pain & painful
- -racked
- achy
- agonizing
- cluster headache
- dodgy
- earache
- hell
- hurt
- masochism
- non-ulcer stomach pain
- painful
- painfully
- painless
- rack
- racking
- shooting pains
- suffering
- tender
- throb
- torment
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