irritant

1 of 2

noun

ir·​ri·​tant ˈir-ə-tənt 

: something that irritates or excites

irritant

2 of 2

adjective

: causing irritation

specifically : tending to produce physical irritation

Synonyms

Noun

• aggravation
• aggro [British]
• annoyance
• bother
• botheration
• bugbear
• exasperation
• frustration
• hair shirt
• hassle
• headache
• inconvenience
• irk
• nuisance
• peeve
• pest
• rub
• ruffle
• thorn
• trial
• vexation

Examples of irritant in a Sentence

Noun

dust and other lung irritants

The delay was a minor irritant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Pollutants like carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and environmental tobacco smoke are significant irritants that can impact your breathing. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 17 Jan. 2025

Sensitive Skin Soothing Care’s formula, produced in a white room, has active ingredients from plants and no preservatives, since those can be irritants. —Jennifer Weil, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Ukraine has said the chemical weapons used by Russia often include combat grenades equipped with the irritant chemical agents CS and CN. —Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024

When inhaled, benzene can also be a respiratory irritant. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1802, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1636, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

irritant

1 of 2 adjective

ir·​ri·​tant ˈir-ə-tənt 

: tending to produce anger, annoyance, impatience, soreness, or inflammation

especially : tending to produce physical irritation

irritant

2 of 2 noun

: something that irritates

Medical Definition

irritant

1 of 2 adjective

ir·​ri·​tant ˈir-ə-tənt 

: causing irritation

specifically : tending to produce inflammation

irritant

2 of 2 noun

: something that irritates or excites

specifically : an agent by which irritation is produced

a chemical irritant