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

It's usually caused by long-term exposure to environmental irritants such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, allergens, air pollution and dust, explains Dr. Kunal Bakshi, a primary care physician at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025

Environmental factors: Exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, or chemical fumes can increase your risk. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Hachimura was a gravelly irritant, checking Jokić all around the half-court and denying ball entry in the post. —Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

Trump’s second term has already been a much bigger irritant to allies than his relatively restrained first mandate. —Juan Pablo Spinetto, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025

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