IRRITATING Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

irritating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ

Definition of irritating

as in annoying

causing annoyance his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harsh

causing an unpleasant tingling sensation this soap leaves a residue that might be a little irritating if you have sensitive skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

irritating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of irritate

as in bothering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scratching

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 irritating

Adjective

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

Verb

Another person may approach the goal differently, which could be useful rather than irritating. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026 The Pisces Moon squares Uranus in your daily-life zone, making unclear instructions, appointments, or routine disruptions especially irritating. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating

Adjective

McCartney said of his note to Mendes about the height imbalance, wondering how the director will rectify this annoying, historic aberration.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Something in your routine, schedule, or workload may feel disproportionately annoying or demanding, especially if too many little things pile up at once.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoying

Adjective

And now those still left in the battered city along Ukraine's southeastern front face death from hunger or disease as another harsh winter looms, with no agreement in sight for even a humanitarian evacuation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Despite low winds and little rain, harsh surf continues to wreak havoc along Southern California's coastal communities.

— Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of harsh

Verb

His work is autobiographical and based on whatever has been bothering him that year.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
For example, companies that benefit from customers not bothering to cancel subscriptions, compare prices, or search for better deals have taken a beating in recent weeks.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bothering

Verb

Test the plant’s health by lightly scratching the woody stems—healthy tissue beneath the bark will typically look green.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 Oct. 2026
Well, then the sound of television writer Joe Wiseman clearing his throat over and over again might as well be Gilbert Gottfried’s laugh scratching against a chalkboard.

— Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of scratching

Adjective

Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel didn’t shy away from discussing his job security Thursday amid a frustrating 0-5 start to the season.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Wednesday's rain made for a frustrating day for hundreds of travelers at Denver International Airport, including some football fans arriving for Thursday night's Broncos game.

— Tori Mason, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Adjective

Already postponed 24 hours, the invasion proceeded in the face of rough seas, strong winds, and low visibility in order to seize a small window in time of enormous consequence.

— Marc E. Andersen, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
Japanese flight controllers want to avoid powdery soil and rough terrain when the mothership, a four-legged stationary lander, descends to the surface to gather samples in late 2028 or 2029.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rough

Verb

On Monday, a court granted the US government’s request to deny release of a former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging a top-secret conference room to steal the frontier lab’s secrets.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
However, in-flight cabin etiquette is only one part of what’s bugging travelers this summer.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of bugging

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irritates

irritating

irritatingly

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Style

“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of irritating

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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