irritation

American  

[ir-i-tey-shuhn] / ˌɪr ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of irritating or the state of being irritated.

2. something that irritates.

3. Physiology, Pathology.

   1. the bringing of a bodily part or organ to an abnormally excited or sensitive condition.

   2. the condition itself.

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irritation British  

/ ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. something that irritates

2. the act of irritating or the condition of being irritated

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Other Word Forms

• irritative adjective

Etymology

Origin of irritation

First recorded in 1580–90, irritation is from the Latin word irrītātiōn- (stem of irrītātiō ). See irritate, -ion

Example Sentences

Sal quietly seethes with irritation at Sonny’s misbegotten machinations, his chilly demeanor suggesting a tense and potentially dangerous volatility.

From The Wall Street Journal

Anxiety punches me and a shard of irritation jabs me, that she’s asking about this again.

From Literature

The screaming children were an irritation at best, a nuisance at worst.

From Literature

She did her best to be kind to us, and tolerant, but she was used to living alone, and sometimes, I think, she found it difficult to hide her irritation with us.

From Literature

The fluster that I felt back in the station has developed into irritation here on the train, now that I can’t so easily walk away.

From Literature

Related Words

• inflammation
• irritability
• soreness
• tenderness