irritate

irritate — verb

1. to cause someone to feel bothered or slightly angry, especially because of somet

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to cause someone to feel bothered or slightly angry, especially because of something that happens repeatedly or continues for a while

Example

Daichi's habit of tapping his pen on the desk began to irritate his classmates.

'habit of + V-ing' as the subject causing irritation

The loud music from the party next door irritated the whole street until midnight.

Common collocations
  • irritate someone
  • be irritated by/with
  • irritate + person + by doing
Synonyms
  • annoy

    slightly milder and more general than irritate

  • bother

    less formal; suggests a nuisance rather than anger

  • aggravate

    more informal than irritate; can also mean 'make worse' in formal English

Antonyms
  • please

    to cause a feeling of satisfaction or happiness, opposite of annoying someone

Grammar Patterns

irritate + person

irritate + person + with/by + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Often describes irritation caused by repeated or ongoing actions rather than a single event. The subject is commonly a habit, a situation, or another person's behaviour.

Common Mistakes

His constant questions aggravated the situation when I needed to work.
His constant questions irritated me when I needed to work.
'aggravate' traditionally means 'make worse'; for 'annoy,' use 'irritate.'

2. to cause soreness or discomfort in a particular area of the body, often as a rea

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause soreness or discomfort in a particular area of the body, often as a reaction to rubbing, chemicals, or harsh materials

Example

The rough fabric of the new shirt irritated Saira's skin after only an hour.

'irritate + body part (skin)' showing physical discomfort

Yasmin's eyes became red and irritated because of the smoke from the campfire.

passive: 'became irritated' as a physical state

Common collocations
  • irritate the skin
  • irritate the eyes
  • irritate a wound
  • become irritated
Synonyms
  • chafe

    specifically refers to irritation caused by rubbing

  • inflame

    more intense; refers to redness, swelling, and heat in body tissue

Antonyms
  • soothe

    to relieve or calm an irritated or painful area

Grammar Patterns

irritate + body part

become/get irritated

Usage Note

Commonly used for skin, eyes, throat, or wounds. The irritation is typically mild to moderate, not severe pain. Frequently appears in medical contexts involving allergies, friction, or chemical reactions.

Common Mistakes

The chemical hurt my hands badly.
The chemical irritated my skin.
'hurt' suggests serious pain; 'irritate' describes a milder, uncomfortable reaction like redness or soreness.

Word family

  • irritation
    nounB1
  • irritable
    adjectiveB2
  • irritating
    adjectiveB1
  • irritated
    adjectiveB1
  • irritatingly
    adverbC1
  • irritant
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe causing displeasure, but they differ in intensity and style. 'Irritate' (B1) focuses on gradual annoyance from something repeated or ongoing — imagine a dripping tap or a tapping pen. 'Annoy' (A2) is the most common and general; any minor disturbance can annoy you. 'Bother' (B1) is slightly more informal and often suggests that something intrudes on your peace or time — 'Don't bother your father while he is reading.' 'Aggravate' (B2) is more informal when used to mean 'annoy' ('Stop aggravating your sister!'), but in formal writing it still carries its traditional meaning of 'make worse.' For ESL learners, 'irritate' and 'annoy' are the safest choices in formal contexts, while 'bother' works best in everyday conversation.

annoy ↗bother ↗irritate ↗aggravate

Common collocations

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'irritate' comes from Latin 'irritare,' meaning to excite, provoke, or anger. It entered English in the 1530s, originally referring only to mental or emotional annoyance. By the late 1700s, it gained the additional medical meaning of causing physical soreness or inflammation, reflecting the idea that certain substances or friction can 'provoke' a reaction in body tissue.