irksome
Americanadjective
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annoying; irritating; exasperating; tiresome.
irksome restrictions.
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Obsolete. causing weariness or disgust.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of irksome
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at irk, -some 1
Explanation
If your little brother keeps saying the same phrase over and over again, you might find it irksome — that is, annoying in a tiresome way. If you are a person who likes to know exactly where words come from, you might find it irksome that the etymology of irksome's 15th century ancestor irken is unknown. If you complain about this to all of your friends, they might start to find you irksome also.
Vocabulary lists containing irksome
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Grade 9, List 2
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The Taming of the Shrew
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meanwhile, Keith, Boy Talk’s most talented vocalist, vibrates with rage at his showboating bandmates, particularly his irksome younger brother, and is mourning the sorry state of his marriage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
The wanton use of the term is part of the fun, but also what makes it irksome.
From Salon ● May 10, 2026
"The rise of AI has raised concerns about low-quality content — also known as AI slop," YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan said of the irksome phenomenon.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
But for the moment, this looks like a pat on the head to a couple of avid but irksome boosters.
From Slate ● Nov. 16, 2024
This was an irksome but expected trade-off in the legal field, where it was not uncommon to prepare for a trial that never came to pass.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
