irk

[ urk ]

/ ɜrk /

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See synonyms for: irk / irked / irking on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to irritate, annoy, or exasperate: It irked him to wait in line.

OTHER WORDS FOR irk

chafe, fret, bother; tire.

See synonyms for irk on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of irk

1300–50; Middle English irken to grow tired, tire <Old Norse yrkja to work, cognate with Old English wyrcan;see work

Words nearby irk

Irish yew, iris-in, iris-out, iris shutter, iritis, irk, irksome, Irkutsk, IRL, IRM, Irma

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use irk in a sentence

It’s not something the group is determined to pursue but the idea has now advanced far enough to reportedly irk some of its allies.
Politics Report: BIA Talks New Tax|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|August 21, 2021|Voice of San Diego
In fact, Gen Zers are more likely to create their own product and brand to replace the brand that has irked them.
CMO Summit Recap: How marketers are adjusting to the delayed phase-out of third-party cookies|Sara Jerde|July 27, 2021|Digiday
They are a beloved part of our lifestyle, but when untrained, they terrorize wildlife, chase bikers, irk passersby, and cause trouble on trails.
I Was a Bad Dog Owner. Don’t Be Like Me.|Kate Siber|May 11, 2021|Outside Online
None, however, irks insiders in a presidential operation like the 100-Day contest.
100 Days, the Global Pandemic Edition|Philip Elliott|April 30, 2021|Time

Elrich irked smart-growth advocates in 2019 for questioning housing targets set by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
After setting ambitious climate goals, a liberal Md. suburb struggles to take action|Rebecca Tan|April 12, 2021|Washington Post
But sometimes he veers into territory that could irk staunch patriots.
Ron Paul Book’s Juiciest Red Meat|David A. Graham|July 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He was like a fly condemned to spend his life in the irk-some society of the spider.
American Sketches|Charles Whibley
The restrictions of the house began to irk her, and she was afraid of the garden.
Poppy|Cynthia Stockley
The school drew revenues from the mills on the Irk in the days when that stream ran in limpid purity into the Irwell.
The Rivers of Great Britain; Rivers of the South and West Coasts|Various
But even an influence as kindly as this gentle, indulgent old man's may irk.
The Transgression of Andrew Vane|Guy Wetmore Carryl
When he had apparently made all ready, he stooped down again and smoothed out a ruck, lest its discomfort should irk the dead.
Murder Point|Coningsby Dawson

British Dictionary definitions for irk

irk

/ (ɜːk) /

verb

(tr) to irritate, vex, or annoy

Word Origin for irk

C13 irken to grow weary; probably related to Old Norse yrkja to work

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012