irritative

American  

[ir-i-tey-tiv] / ˈɪr ɪˌteɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. serving or tending to irritate.

2. Pathology. characterized or produced by irritation of some body part.

   an irritative fever.

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Other Word Forms

• irritativeness noun
• unirritative adjective

Etymology

Origin of irritative

First recorded in 1680–90; irritate + -ive

Example Sentences

"We are recording a surge in the number of irritative bronchitis infections," Jugal Kishore, the head of the medicine department at the city's Safdarjung Hospital, told PTI news agency.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2023

These agencies have, moreover, the marked disadvantage of adding their irritative effects to those incidental to the dermatitis.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

Pressure on the important nerves traversing the neck may give rise to irritative or paralytic symptoms.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

Incitantia, or those things which increase the exertions of all the irritative motions.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

Lesions are often both irritative and destructive, and lead to paralysis of one or more groups of muscles associated with spasms and convulsions of the muscles governed by neighbouring areas of the cortex.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander