irritant

[ ir-i-tnt ]

/ ˈɪr ɪ tnt /

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See synonyms for irritant on Thesaurus.com

adjective

tending to cause irritation; irritating.

noun

anything that irritates.

Physiology, Pathology. a biological, chemical, or physical agent that stimulates a characteristic function or elicits a response, especially an inflammatory response.

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Origin of irritant

1630–40; <Latin irrītant- (stem of irrītāns), present participle of irrītāre to irritate; see -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM irritant

ir·ri·tan·cy, nounnon·ir·ri·tan·cy, nounnon·ir·ri·tant, adjectiveun·ir·ri·tant, adjective

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

How to use irritant in a sentence

For conservative partisans, Hagel is now the embodiment of all these irritants.
Hagel’s Confirmation Hearings Contentious and Partisan|John Avlon|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
All are fairly well agreed as to the irritants, pollen and dust; but what makes the patient sensitive?
The Treatment of Hay Fever|George Frederick Laidlaw
And, obviously, so far as this man is concerned, the problem of counter-irritants has been solved.
The Book of Life: Vol. I Mind and Body; Vol. II Love and Society|Upton Sinclair
Health depends upon moderate action of external irritants; disease, upon either their weakness or their extraordinary strength.
An Epitome of the History of Medicine|Roswell Park

External irritants, also, in predisposed subjects, are at times responsible.
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon
Carelessness in personal habits, manners, speech, and attitude may become irritants that jeopardize romance.
The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book|Various

British Dictionary definitions for irritant

irritant

/ (ˈɪrɪtənt) /

adjective

causing irritation; irritating

noun

something irritant

Derived forms of irritant

irritancy, noun

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

irritant

Origin of irritant

OTHER WORDS FROM irritant

Words related to irritant

How to use irritant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for irritant

Derived forms of irritant