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irritate

12 synonyms and 0 antonyms for irritate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To annoy or make someone impatient or angry.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

vex rile nettle nark chafe get to get at

How to use irritate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

irritate the skin it really irritates me

Etymology

From Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare, "to excite or provoke."

Full origin of irritate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “irritate” mean?

The word “irritate” means to annoy or make someone impatient or angry. In plain terms, to annoy someone, or to cause physical soreness or discomfort.

How do you pronounce “irritate”?

“Irritate” is pronounced IHR-ih-tayt (/ˈɪɹ.ɪˌteɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “irritate” in a sentence?

Here is “irritate” used in a sentence: “His constant tapping on the desk irritates me.”

What part of speech is “irritate”?

“Irritate” is a verb.

Where does the word “irritate” come from?

The word “irritate” comes from Latin. From Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare, "to excite or provoke.".

How many meanings does “irritate” have?

“Irritate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to annoy or make someone impatient or angry.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.