as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
she irked her friend by chewing her gum loudly during the movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
one of the prof's major irks is a cell phone that rings during a lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 irk
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
Yet many aren’t necessarily getting a raise, at least in the short term, irking some workers, staffing officials and business owners say.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for irk 
Verb
Backers with interests in the crypto and AI industries such as Andreessen and Horowitz are irked at the Biden administration’s regulatory campaigns.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
Yet many aren’t necessarily getting a raise, at least in the short term, irking some workers, staffing officials and business owners say.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
Noun
The violence gets worse from there, and somehow all that is supposed to fit into a show about a Washington socialite whose biggest irk in the premiere is her rivalry with the first lady.
—Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021
See all Example Sentences for irk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irk
Verb
-
Examples of structural issues include being easily annoyed by other people’s demands and stories about their daily activities.Courtney Smith, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
-
The report said the mailings annoyed and confused some voters.Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Concussion symptoms include confusion, drowsiness, nausea, and headache.Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 30 Nov. 2024
-
When burning scented candles, do so in small doses to avoid headaches or irritation of the respiratory system or eyes.Kristen Rogers, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
However, their acid can sometimes irritate a sore throat.Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2024
-
Sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas emitted during volcanic eruptions, can irritate the respiratory system, the eyes and skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ty Roush, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The world wars turned the insect from a nuisance to a mortal threat.Salama Udaipurwala, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024
-
But, as this CNN investigation reveals, this public nuisance has an exploitative underbelly that warrants scrutiny.Longreads, Longreads, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Jeff Beal, owner of the Cigar Vault, said the business uses a ventilation system that recycles the air, so patrons of nearby businesses should not be bothered by the cigar smoke.Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
-
They cannot be bothered with solving the day-to-day needs-to-survive of their charges.Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Lai, a billionaire media tycoon who had long been a thorn in the side of Beijing, was arrested in August 2020, shortly after the central Chinese government imposed a national security law that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
-
The lawsuit, filed by California resident Victor Cho, alleges a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act, a federal law barring the disclosure of information about viewing habits that’s long been a thorn in the side of streaming providers.Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Green and his team bug their investors incessantly for help getting introduced to companies or for mentorship and advice for businesses already in their portfolio.Hank Tucker, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
-
The inability to do anything against the Braves in extra innings will probably be the defining series of the season, but there’s something about this one that should bug you more than most.Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
The torture of losing to the Wolverines four years in a row spilled over after the game as Michigan’s celebration clashed with Ohio State’s frustration, all in a cloud of pepper spray.Austin Meek, The Athletic, 1 Dec. 2024
-
Even though your vision is solid, mental frustration can block your dream.USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near irk
Cite this Entry
“Irk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irk. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share