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Definition of irritating

irritating

/ˈɪr.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ/
ir · ri · tat · ing
Adverb:irritatingly
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irritating Lexical Profile

irritating Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing annoyance, impatience, or mild anger.

Example

"The constant hum of the fluorescent light in the office became increasingly irritating as the afternoon wore on."

2

Causing physical discomfort, inflammation, or sensitivity in a part of the body.

Example

"Protective gloves should be worn when handling the solution, as the chemicals can be irritating to bare skin."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for irritating
Antonyms
View all antonyms for irritating

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'irritating' (describing the person or thing that causes annoyance) with 'irritated' (describing how a person feels when annoyed).

• Rhymes for irritating

• Nearby Words

irritant
irritate
irritatedly
irritating
irritatingly
irritation
irtysh

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the present participle of the verb 'irritate', which comes from the Latin 'irritatus', the past participle of 'irritare' meaning 'to excite, provoke, or annoy'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Irritating. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/irritating
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