irritating 1 of 2

irritating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of irritate
1
2
as in scratching
to make sore by continued rubbing new shoes usually irritate my feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irritating
Adjective
Crusty eyes can be unsightly and irritating, but there are ways to manage and treat the debris and keep your eyes clean and healthy. Laura Schober, Health, 29 Jan. 2025 Try substituting less irritating sodium ascorbate for vitamin C and retinal for retinol or tretinoin. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
This waterproof version of the brand's best-selling, clump-free formula can withstand heat, humidity, and any other moisture that may come your way without irritating sensitive eyes. Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Dec. 2024 A lot of anti-aging skincare contains ingredients like retinol that can be drying and irritating, but Cetaphil has a possible solution. Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for irritating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritating
Adjective
  • But unexpected allies and converts to the team’s cause appear, too: passengers awaiting a flight to Kabul, an American technology reporter, maybe even that annoying bakery owner.
    Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The second week My usual redness around my cheeks had started to fade, and the annoying pimple that had been brewing on my cheek seemed to back off without its usual dramatic entrance.
    Larry Stansbury, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The 79-year-old Oscar winner embraces the challenging role of the Dutton family matriarch alongside co-star Harrison Ford, confronting everything from mountain lions to the harsh realities of frontier life.
    Holly Williams, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Unlike Western cleansers, which often rely on harsh surfactants or astringent ingredients, Korean ones maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and natural pH balance, says Cho.
    Denise Primbet, Glamour, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Similar to a sheet pan, whole meals can be built in a Dutch oven, scratching that same itch for convenience and less clean up.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
  • But that’s just scratching the surface – addressing only the symptoms of the underlying challenges and only addressing them at the end of the SDLC process.
    Jeremy Vaughan, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Most welcomed this move, even if the timing was frustrating.
    Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025
  • What’s especially frustrating to people involved in ferret conservation is that funding and staff resources were already limited heading into 2025.
    Benji Jones, Vox, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Trump administration has expressed interest in other minerals like lithium, graphite, and titanium, but these are based on rough mineral estimates.
    Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • While New York City as a whole is safer than most other metropolises, pockets of especially rough neighborhoods are unsafe, particularly for young men.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Helped by the transaxle layout, the massive power gains, and sublime styling inside and out, the Vantage also requires less of the sacrifices dictated by low-slung mid-engine supercars that demand constant vigilance to avoid scraping on speed bumps, rough canyon roads, or driveways.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
  • The scraping sensations shouldn't be painful but may feel slightly uncomfortable.
    Carley Millhone, Health, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • These findings should be deeply disturbing to Western policymakers, for at least two reasons.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices is disturbing.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritating. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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