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

Typically, cats experience inflammation or irritation – such as eye swelling or skin redness – when exposed to irritants like flowers. —Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024

And for the second time, tension rose in the late-night hours and law enforcement again used chemical irritants and rubber bullets to break up a gathering of about 100 protesters. —Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2024

Adjective

Authorities said a pro-Palestinian protester also used a chemical irritant against at least two officers, which Choi said the department is investigating. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024

Exposure to the gas, like exposure to PM 2.5 particles, can be an acute airway irritant. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 25 June 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