as in annoyed
subjected to and reacting with irritation
irked drivers were honking and shouting at the cows in the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bothered
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irked
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
SpaceX’s argument irked some critics, who say the company did nothing to address their concerns.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Alfonso’s familial advantage has irked some Wisconsin Republicans who don’t want the newcomer to glide into such an important position.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026
But what irked me the most was the shockingly sweet tomato sauce.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
King in recent weeks had appeared irked by scrutiny being paid to CBS News, which has generated more attention since Weiss, an opinion journalist with little experience managing a mainstream media operation, joined last year.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
In one story, the king, Hiranyakashipu, ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him and was irked when his own son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, disobeyed his command.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The media company’s positioning has already irked some of its existing stars.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Free-speech civil-society groups on the right and the left were irked by Kuhl’s decision.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
What irked her most was the foregone futility of the day.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
SpaceX’s argument irked some critics, who say the company did nothing to address their concerns.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
Alfonso’s familial advantage has irked some Wisconsin Republicans who don’t want the newcomer to glide into such an important position.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026
But what irked me the most was the shockingly sweet tomato sauce.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
King in recent weeks had appeared irked by scrutiny being paid to CBS News, which has generated more attention since Weiss, an opinion journalist with little experience managing a mainstream media operation, joined last year.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
In one story, the king, Hiranyakashipu, ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him and was irked when his own son Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, disobeyed his command.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The media company’s positioning has already irked some of its existing stars.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Free-speech civil-society groups on the right and the left were irked by Kuhl’s decision.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irked
Adjective
-
There’s nothing wrong with legislators unwinding and heading back to their districts, but Americans are reasonably annoyed to see their representatives at a casino or theme park amid a partial government shutdown.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The proud bronze lions outside the Art Institute are getting very annoyed and starting to grumble.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Despite being bothered by his elbow throughout the 2025 campaign, Rodón enjoyed his best season with the Yankees last year.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Other birds won’t be bothered, but the crows will stay away for a long time.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The area may be slightly swollen, red, itchy and irritated.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Both ingredients blanket dry, irritated skin and deeply restore moisture for that signature K-beauty glass-skin glow.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Three people told the Washington Examiner that Scott had become paranoid that Lewandowski was spying on him through his work phone and had bugged his office.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Underwood went on The Bachelor as a straight man, made a connection with Randolph, broke up with her, bugged her car, and then was hit with a restraining order.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In the video of the altercation, which was broken into clips and cross-posted across social media platforms, Peters and the woman are hanging out when Lentz arrives, upset.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Eduiot site includes photographs and audiovisual material, and features the accounts of parents, siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces of Jews persecuted and disappeared under the dictatorship.—
Juan Melamed,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The helpless and much persecuted turtles were cooked in a rich, creamy soup with chunks of meat.—
James Stout,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
After the Canadiens’ loss to the Sharks on Saturday, Lane Hutson was somewhat exasperated that issues the Canadiens have talked about for months keep coming up.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Documentarian Geeta Gandbhir retraces this slow-moving tragedy through the body camera footage of the exasperated officers who know that the caller, not the children, is the problem.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That was the result of angry partisans taking seriously Trump’s bogus election-fraud claims.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
House Republicans are angry that the bill passed early Friday by the Senate does not fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irked. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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