'Irritating' definitions:
Definition of 'irritating'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Causing irritation or annoyance; "tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork"; "aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport"; "found it galling to have to ask permission"; "an irritating delay"; "nettlesome paperwork"; "a pesky mosquito"; "swarms of pestering gnats"; "a plaguey newfangled safety catch"; "a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him"; "a vexatious child"; "it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong" [syn: annoying, bothersome, galling, irritating, nettlesome, pesky, pestering, pestiferous, plaguy, plaguey, teasing, vexatious, vexing]
adjective
(used of physical stimuli) serving to stimulate or excite; "an irritative agent" [syn: irritating, irritative]
adjective
Causing physical discomfort; "bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful" [syn: irritating, painful]
Definition of 'Irritating'
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 'irritating'
From: GCIDE
- irritating \irritating\ adj.
- 1. causing annoyance.
- Syn: annoying, galling, chafing, nettlesome, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, plaguy, plaguey, teasing, vexatious, vexing. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
- 2. causing irritation of living tissue; -- used of physical stimuli.
- Syn: irritant, irritative. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
- 3. causing pain or physical discomfort; as, an irritating burr under his stocking.
- Syn: painful. [WordNet 1.5]
Synonyms of 'irritating'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- acerbic,
- acid,
- acrid,
- aggravating,
- aggravative,
- annoying,
- asperous,
- astringent,
- biting,
- bitter,
- bothering,
- bothersome,
- caustic,
- chafing,
- contentious,
- cutting,
- disturbing,
- escharotic,
- exasperating,
- exasperative,
- fretting,
- galling,
- grating,
- grinding,
- harassing,
- harsh,
- importunate,
- importune,
- irking,
- irksome,
- irritant,
- irritative,
- keen,
- mordant,
- nose-tickling,
- penetrating,
- pesky,
- pestering,
- pestiferous,
- pestilent,
- pestilential,
- piercing,
- piquant,
- plaguesome,
- plaguey,
- plaguing,
- poignant,
- provocative,
- provoking,
- pungent,
- rasping,
- rough,
- scratchy,
- severe,
- sharp,
- sour,
- stinging,
- teasing,
- tiresome,
- tormenting,
- trenchant,
- troublesome,
- troubling,
- vexatious,
- vexing,
- vitriolic,
- wearisome,
- worrisome,
- worrying
Words containing 'Irritating'
- Irritability,
- Irritable,
- Irritableness,
- Irritably,
- Irritancy,
- Irritant,
- Irritate,
- Irritated,
- Irritation,
- Irritative,
- irritatingly,
- Counter irritant,
- Counter irritation,
- Pure irritant,
- chemical irritant,
- irritable bowel syndrome,
- cranky fractious irritable peevish peckish pettish petulant testy tetchy techy,
- annoying galling chafing irritating nettlesome pesky pestiferous pestilent plaguy plaguey teasing vexatious vexing