irritating

1 of 2

adjective

ir·​ri·​tat·​ing ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ How to pronounce irritating (audio)
Synonyms of irritatingnext
: causing displeasure, anger, or annoyance
an irritating noise/habit
I felt more and more angry. There was something very irritating and aggressive in Summerlee's demeanour.—Arthur Conan Doyle
irritatingly
ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ-lē How to pronounce irritating (audio)
adverb
The computer was irritatingly slow.

irritating

2 of 2

present participle of irritate

Synonyms of irritating

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Adjective

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Examples of irritating in a Sentence

Adjective his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor this soap leaves a residue that might be a little irritating if you have sensitive skin
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Adjective
Mars in your sign challenges disciplined Saturn, creating the deeply irritating experience of feeling motivated and blocked at the same time. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026 Brands that connect those steps—or simply remove one irritating point of friction—can create disproportionate value. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 His irritating habit of starting each meeting with the ping of a bell reinforces his personality. — Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 Sabalenka double-faulted on match point, her seventh double fault of the day, to put an exclamation point on an irritating evening. — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritating

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of irritating was in 1707

Rhymes for irritating

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Browse Nearby Words

irritated
irritating
irritation
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Cite this Entry

“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritating. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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