irritating

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.

Synonyms of irritating

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Examples of irritating in a Sentence

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
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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 Soft, suede-like material is smooth on skin and non-irritating. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Sutherland further emphasizes this point, saying that calcium and magnesium in hard water can be absorbed into the cotton, making the towels stiff and irritating. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026 Like nails on a chalkboard, whining—an irritating blend of talking and crying—has the ability to make almost any parent either lose their temper or cave. — Debby Waldman, Parents, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritating

Word History

First Known Use

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

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irritating
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Cite this Entry

“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritating. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on irritating

Nglish: Translation of irritating for Spanish Speakers

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