IRRITATES Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

irritates

verb

present tense third-person singular of irritate

as in annoys

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scratches

to make sore by continued rubbing new shoes usually irritate my feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of irritates With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters. — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026 The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants. — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026 Anyone who has sat through a mandatory team-building exercise knows the difference between a ritual that binds and a program that irritates. — Julia Dhar, Time, 11 July 2026 If someone is in your life long enough, they’re bound to do something that irritates you—and you’re bound to do something that irritates them. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 Elsa’s inquisitive presence almost instantly irritates Amalia, as the latter refuses to simply acquiesce to her relentless quizzing. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 16 May 2026 The impish half-smile that irritates opponents eventually returns to his face, though. — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026 Daisy is caught so off guard that her first reaction is to laugh, which irritates Ben. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026 Weed pollen typically irritates people in the late summer and early fall. — Seth Jacobson, wickedlocal.com, 5 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritates

Verb

Hotel-booking platform HotelTonight surveyed 447 of its American adult users in June about what annoys them the most during travel.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 21 July 2026
But Turner is a symbol for everything that annoys people about the Phillies.

— Matt Gelb, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of annoys

Verb

Culturally, college football scratches the human itch for tribalism, which America’s ethos of individualism fortunately discourages.

— George F. Will, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
The brand’s Krossa desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of scratches

Verb

That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal.

— Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about this scam is that criminals are going after people who may have the fewest options to protect themselves.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of bothers

Verb

The nurturing Moon travels through your 6th House of Work and conjoins edgy Chiron there, highlighting a small habit that chafes, then pointing you toward relief.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
But Morton chafes against such stark and incriminating simplicity.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Definition of chafes

Verb

China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.

— Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Definition of persecutes

Verb

Smullen’s campaign launched an anti-Constantino website that excoriates him for, among many other things, his past registration as a Democrat.

— Michael Hill, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Woodcutters sets forth the musings of a narrator sitting in an armchair at a dinner party who excoriates the literary awards establishments of his native land (and by extension all lands that are host to a robust bourgeoisie).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026

Definition of excoriates

Verb

People should immediately wash cuts and scrapes thoroughly with soap and clean running water after coming in contact with coastal waters or raw seafood, the CDC said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
The tool scrapes third-party sources to compile additional information and context about individual tracks.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026

Definition of scrapes

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“Irritates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritates. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of irritates

verb

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