'Irritate' definitions:

Definition of 'irritate'

From: WordNet
verb
Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves" [syn: annoy, rag, get to, bother, get at, irritate, rile, nark, nettle, gravel, vex, chafe, devil]
verb
Excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame; "Aspirin irritates my stomach" [ant: soothe]
verb
Excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus; "irritate the glands of a leaf"

Definition of 'Irritate'

From: GCIDE
  • Irritate \Ir"ri*tate\, v. t. [See 1 st Irritant.] To render null and void. [R.] --Abp. Bramhall. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Irritate'

From: GCIDE
  • Irritate \Ir"ri*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Irritated; p. pr. & vb. n. Irritating.] [L. irritatus, p. p. of irritare. Of doubtful origin.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in; to intensify; to stimulate. [1913 Webster]
  • Cold maketh the spirits vigorous and irritateth them. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects. [1913 Webster]
  • Dismiss the man, nor irritate the god: Prevent the rage of him who reigns above. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Physiol.) To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to cause to contract. See Irritation, n., 2. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Med.) To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse bandage.
  • Syn: To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex; exasperate; anger; incense; enrage.
  • Usage: To Irritate, Provoke, Exasperate. These words express different stages of excited or angry feeling. Irritate denotes an excitement of quick and slightly angry feeling which is only momentary; as, irritated by a hasty remark. To provoke implies the awakening of some open expression of decided anger; as, a provoking insult. Exasperate denotes a provoking of anger at something unendurable. Whatever comes across our feelings irritates; whatever excites anger provokes; whatever raises anger to a high point exasperates. "Susceptible and nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated." --Crabb. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Irritate'

From: GCIDE
  • Irritate \Ir"ri*tate\, a. Excited; heightened. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'irritate'

From: Moby Thesaurus