irksome

adjective

irk·​some ˈərk-səm How to pronounce irksome (audio)
: tending to irk : tedious
an irksome task
irksomely adverb
irksomeness noun

Examples of irksome in a Sentence

the irksome task of cleaning up the irksome habit of leaving all the kitchen cabinet doors open
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The documentary can be irksome, and its chronology a touch confusing, but Spiegelman is an entertaining interlocutor, and so are many of the artists and critics who testify to his greatness here. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025 Wall Street is breathing a sigh of relief at the departure of Biden’s Securities and Exchange Commission chair, Gary Gensler, along with his irksome initiatives to police the financial industry, especially its burgeoning crypto sector. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 This is irksome in that our NATO allies have had a long time to prepare for this. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 18 Feb. 2025 In many European countries, Jews have long represented an irksome reminder of the blemishes on the nation’s moral standing. Yascha Mounk, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2014 See All Example Sentences for irksome

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of irksome was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Irksome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irksome. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

irksome

adjective
irk·​some ˈərk-səm How to pronounce irksome (audio)
: annoying because of length or dullness
an irksome task
irksomely adverb
irksomeness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on irksome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!