: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce physical irritation
Synonyms
Examples of irritant in a Sentence
Noun
dust and other lung irritants
The delay was a minor irritant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2024
This inflammation develops suddenly in response to certain irritants that weaken the stomach's protective mucosal layer, allowing digestive acids to irritate the stomach.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
Suzy Forman, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024
In response, soldiers aimed pepper balls at the ground, creating an irritant cloud to prevent them from unlawfully entering.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irritant 
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Noun
Touching it with your bare hands may not be a good idea for this reason and because the plant can absorb allergens and irritants if it’s lived in the same place for a long stretch of time.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2024
This inflammation develops suddenly in response to certain irritants that weaken the stomach's protective mucosal layer, allowing digestive acids to irritate the stomach.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
This formula also contains guar gum, which Rhyan Geiger, RDN, founder of the Phoenix Vegan Dietitian, notes can be a gut irritant for people with issues like IBS.
—Suzy Forman, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024
In response, soldiers aimed pepper balls at the ground, creating an irritant cloud to prevent them from unlawfully entering.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irritant
Dictionary Entries Near irritant
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritant. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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