I. ˈirəˌtāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare, from in- in- (II) + -ritare (perhaps akin to Latin oriri to rise) — more at rise
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to increase the action of : heighten excitement in : aggravate
2. : to excite impatience, anger, or displeasure in : provoke , exasperate , annoy
irritated by the child's insolence
3. : to cause (an organ or tissue) to be irritable : produce irritation in
harsh soaps may irritate the skin
avoid irritating the sensitive laryngeal reflexes — Anesthesia Digest
4. : to produce excitation in (as a nerve) : stimulate : cause (as a muscle) to contract
intransitive verb
: to cause or induce displeasure or irritation
it's the petty things of life that irritate most
a soothing lotion for burns that is guaranteed not to irritate
Synonyms:
exasperate , nettle , roil , rile , peeve , aggravate , provoke : irritate means to arouse angry annoyance or great displeasure evoking feelings ranging from impatience to rage
it irritated him that she peered so into everything that was his, searching him out — D.H.Lawrence
a Mexican carpenter will irritate newcomers beyond endurance by taking a three-hour siesta — Green Peyton
exasperate suggests galling vexation or angry annoyance
her unexplained departure had exasperated him — Edith Wharton
nettle usually indicates a stinging pique, sometimes a rankling irritation
a touch of light scorn in her tone nettled me — W.J.Locke
roil and its variant rile suggest inducing an angry or resentful state of agitated disturbance
her manner of ignoring him. That roiled him inexpressibly — C.S.Forester
with raucous taunting and ribald remarks to rile up the proprietor — W.A.White
peeve applies to arousing fretful irritation, sometimes petty or querulous
when she ventured to criticize it, even mildly, he was peeved — Louis Auchincloss
aggravate may apply to repeated action or condition that intensifies anger or irritation
he did not sweat and pray over each card as she must, but he did keep an eye out for reneging and demanded a cut now and then just to aggravate her — J.F.Powers
provoke may suggest irritation or anger that excites to action
don't think I am trying to provoke you or to make fun of what you revere — Ann Bridge
a Tory resident who provoked local animosities and was charged with high treason — American Guide Series: Connecticut
II. transitive verb
Etymology: Late Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare to invalidate — more at irritant
: to make null and void : defeat