irritate

American  

[ir-i-teyt] / ˈɪr ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

irritates, present (3rd person singular) irritated, past participle, past irritating present participle

1. to excite to impatience or anger; annoy.

   Synonyms:

   inflame, infuriate, enrage, incense, pic, ruffle, nettle, gall, fret, chafe, vex

2. Physiology, Biology. to excite (a living system) to some characteristic action or function.

3. Pathology. to bring (a body part) to an abnormally excited or sensitive condition.

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verb (used without object)

irritates, present (3rd person singular) irritated, past participle, past irritating present participle

1. to cause irritation or become irritated.

irritate British  

/ ˈɪrɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to annoy or anger (someone)

2. (tr) biology to stimulate (an organism or part) to respond in a characteristic manner

3. (tr) pathol to cause (a bodily organ or part) to become excessively stimulated, resulting in inflammation, tenderness, etc

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Synonym Usage

Irritate, exasperate, provoke mean to annoy or stir to anger. To irritate is to excite to impatience or angry feeling, often of no great depth or duration: to irritate by refusing to explain an action. To exasperate is to irritate to a point where self-control is threatened or lost: to exasperate by continual delays and excuses. To provoke is to stir to a sudden, strong feeling of resentful anger as by unwarrantable acts or wanton annoyance: to tease and provoke an animal until it attacks.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• irritator
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has irritated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have irritated
  perfect
• has been irritating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is irritating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• irritates
  singular 3rd person
• are irritating
  progressive
• have been irritating
  perfect progressive
• am irritating
  progressive 1st person singular
• irritating
  participle

Past

• had irritated
  perfect
• were irritating
  progressive plural
• had been irritating
  perfect progressive
• was irritating
  progressive singular
• irritated
  participle
• irritated
  simple

Future

• will irritate
  simple
• will have irritated
  perfect
• will be irritating
  progressive
• will have been irritating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of irritate

1525–35; < Latin irrītātus, past participle of irrītāre to arouse to anger, excite, aggravate, equivalent to irritā- v. stem + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

To irritate is to cause an unsettling reaction, whether it's of the body or the nerves. You can irritate someone by talking too loudly on your cellphone in public. You can also irritate your skin, causing a rash or redness. To irritate is to disturb — either physically or psychologically. When you have an allergic reaction to something, you irritate or disturb the body. When you have an allergic reaction to your kid brother, he is probably irritating you with his annoying habits. And what is the result of something irritating? An irritation of course.

Example Sentences

Short-term exposure can irritate the lungs and nasal passages, and cause nausea and dizziness, said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, Orange County’s health officer.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

And yet, a balancing act lies ahead because Beijing also "does not want to irritate Trump", she adds.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

If possible, wash the wound with soap and water; avoid using antiseptic wipes, which may irritate the wound.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

In larger amounts, it can also irritate the body, sometimes leading to skin rashes or digestive discomfort.

From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2026

I wonder if I’m just noticing all the things about him that irritate me more than usual.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Related Words

• aggravate
• annoy
• bother
• confuse
• disturb
• enrage
• exasperate
• gall
• incense
• inflame
• infuriate
• irk
• offend
• peeve
• provoke
• rankle
• rattle
• rile
• sour
• vex