Synonyms of irritating

irritating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ 

1

as in annoying

causing annoyance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasing

2

as in harsh

causing an unpleasant tingling sensation

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harsh
• rough
• coarse
• itchy
• scratchy
• prickly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soft
• silky
• soothing
• silken

irritating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of irritate

1

as in bothering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoying
• bothering
• bugging
• persecuting
• aggravating
• exasperating
• infuriating
• getting
• vexing
• grating
• irking
• itching
• eating
• worrying
• nettling
• griping
• angering
• chafing
• galling
• burning (up)
• ruffling
• spiting
• riling
• teasing
• rasping
• insulting
• peeving
• plaguing
• frosting
• hacking (off)
• getting to
• narking
• provoking
• piquing
• wearing on
• putting out
• upsetting
• harassing
• nagging
• enraging
• rubbing the wrong way
• offending
• sticking in one's craw
• getting on one's nerves
• hassling
• setting one's teeth on edge
• heckling
• getting one's goat
• unsettling
• maddening
• badgering
• distressing
• pestering
• rousing
• discomforting
• antagonizing
• inflaming
• agitating
• perturbing
• disquieting
• harrying
• baiting
• outraging
• incensing
• rankling
• enflaming
• affronting
• roiling
• deviling
• undoing
• devilling
• fretting
• exercising
• bullyragging
• ballyragging
• unhinging
• freaking (out)
• hagriding
• discomposing
• miffing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obliging
• gratifying
• pacifying
• appeasing
• satisfying
• placating
• pleasing
• conciliating
• delighting
• mollifying
• reassuring
• comforting
• soothing
• assuring
• propitiating
• cheering
• consoling
• quieting
• contenting
• gladdening
• solacing

2

as in scratching

to make sore by continued rubbing

new shoes usually irritate my feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scratching
• scraping
• chafing
• galling
• excoriating
• abrading
• fretting
• burning
• peeling
• grazing
• inflaming
• skinning
• enflaming
• flaying

Examples of irritating in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There’s nothing more irritating than looking in the bathroom mirror only to notice that the beautiful design of your necklace is actually on the backside of your neck, while the clasp is sitting front and center. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2024

But what’s even more irritating is to have your trip canceled by greed. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024

Fragrance-free options are ideal, as fragrances can be potentially irritating, especially for sensitive and dry skin types. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2024

Others aren’t used to being around kids If some people making flippant online comments about kids are rage baiting, and some are venting about particularly frustrating experiences, there are others who genuinely find children irritating. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024