irritating
Irritating (adjective) means causing annoyance or mild anger. Example: “The dripping tap was irritating me all night.”
adjective
1
Causing annoyance or mild anger.
"The dripping tap was irritating me all night."
"It's irritating when people don't reply to messages."
"He has an irritating habit of clicking his pen during meetings."
2
Causing physical soreness or discomfort.
"The chemical fumes were irritating to the throat."
"This wool jumper is irritating to my skin, so I only wear it over a shirt."
"Pollen can be irritating to the eyes in the spring."
How to use irritating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that annoys you, or that causes soreness to skin or another body part.
Common pairings
irritating habit
irritating noise
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like irritating.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more irritating
- Superlative
- most irritating
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dripping tap was _____ me all night.
Synonyms
View more →
annoying
aggravating
bothersome
vexing
grating
pestiferous
painful
irritative
galling
pesky
pestering
nettlesome
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for irritating
See all rhymes for irritating →Frequently asked questions
What does “irritating” mean?
The word “irritating” means causing annoyance or mild anger. In plain terms, something that annoys you, or that causes soreness to skin or another body part.
How do you use “irritating” in a sentence?
Here is “irritating” used in a sentence: “The dripping tap was irritating me all night.”
What part of speech is “irritating”?
“Irritating” is an adjective.
Is “irritating” a common word?
“Irritating” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “irritating” have?
“Irritating” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing annoyance or mild anger.
What is the difference between irritating and annoying?
Irritating and annoying are close synonyms both describing something that causes mild anger or bother, and they are often used interchangeably. Irritating can additionally describe physical discomfort, such as an irritating fabric or rash, a sense that annoying does not typically carry.
Can irritating describe a physical sensation rather than a feeling?
Yes, irritating can describe something causing physical soreness or discomfort, such as an irritating chemical or an irritating scratchy material against the skin, separate from its more common use for emotional annoyance.
What kinds of things are commonly called irritating?
People often describe repetitive noises, minor inconveniences, nagging problems, and certain habits or personality traits as irritating when they cause ongoing mild annoyance rather than serious anger.
