Irritating — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ/ ir·ri·tat·ing

Meaning & Definition of Irritating

Irritating (adjective)

  1. causing displeasure, anger, or annoyance

Irritating (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing annoyance

    "his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor"

    similar: abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, vexing
    related: burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome, biting, grating, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny
    near: delightful, pleasing

  2. causing an unpleasant tingling sensation

    "this soap leaves a residue that might be a little irritating if you have sensitive skin"

    similar: itchy, prickly, scratchy
    related: coarse, harsh, rough
    near: silken, silky, soft, soothing

Irritating (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment"

    similar: aggravating, annoying, bothering, bugging, burning (up), chafing, eating, exasperating, frosting, galling, getting, grating, griping, hacking (off), irking, itching, narking (British), nettling, peeving, persecuting, piquing, putting out, rasping, riling, ruffling, spiting, vexing, getting one's goat, getting on one's nerves, getting to, rubbing the wrong way, setting one's teeth on edge, sticking in one's craw, wearing on
    related: hassling, heckling, nagging, inflaming, provoking, rousing, badgering, baiting, bullyragging, deviling, hagriding, harassing, harrying, pestering, plaguing, teasing, angering, antagonizing, enraging, incensing, infuriating, maddening, rankling, roiling, agitating, discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, exercising, freaking (out), fretting, perturbing, undoing, unhinging, unsettling, upsetting, worrying, affronting, insulting, miffing, offending, outraging
    near: appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, obliging, pacifying, placating, propitiating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, pleasing, satisfying, assuring, cheering, comforting, consoling, contenting, quieting, reassuring, solacing, soothing

  2. to make sore by continued rubbing

    "new shoes usually irritate my feet"

    similar: abrading, chafing, excoriating, fretting, galling
    related: grazing, scraping, scratching, burning, inflaming, flaying, peeling, skinning

Related Entry: Irritate (verb)

Irritate is a different word from Irritating. The synonyms below are for irritate, not for irritating.

  1. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment"

    similar: aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, itch, nark (British), nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex, get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on
    related: hassle, heckle, nag, inflame, provoke, rouse, badger, bait, bullyrag, devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil, agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry, affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage
    near: appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

  2. to make sore by continued rubbing

    "new shoes usually irritate my feet"

    similar: abrade, chafe, excoriate, fret, gall
    related: graze, scrape, scratch, burn, inflame, flay, peel, skin

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Irritating

The most common words with a similar meaning to Irritating:

British: narking
abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, vexing, itchy, prickly, scratchy, bothering, bugging, burning (up), eating, frosting, getting, grating, griping, hacking (off), irking, itching

Related Words for Irritating

burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome, biting, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny, coarse

Near Antonyms of Irritating

delightful, pleasing, silken, silky, soft, soothing, appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, obliging, pacifying, placating, propitiating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, satisfying, assuring, cheering, comforting, consoling, contenting, quieting, reassuring, solacing

Word Forms of Irritating

Derived words: irritatingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Irritating

First known use: 1707

Frequently Asked Questions about Irritating

What does "Irritating" mean?

"Irritating" means causing displeasure, anger, or annoyance. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: causing displeasure, anger, or annoyance. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Irritating"?

Other words for "Irritating" include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing and exasperating. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Irritating" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Irritating"?

There are 129 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Irritating". Common alternatives include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating and galling.

How do you use "Irritating" in a sentence?

Examples of "Irritating" in a sentence: "his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor"; "this soap leaves a residue that might be a little irritating if you have sensitive skin"; "constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment".

Is "Irritating" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Irritating" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Irritating"?

"Irritating" is pronounced /ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ/ and divided into syllables as ir·ri·tat·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Irritating"?

First known use: 1707.

What is another word for "Irritating" meaning "causing annoyance"?

When "Irritating" (adjective) means causing annoyance, synonyms include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking and chafing.