IRRITATE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Irritate

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/ˈɪrɪtˌeɪt/ Listen

Irritate

verb

(past & past part. irritated; pres. part. irritating)

Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations. Synonyms: annoy, bother, chafe, devil, get at, get to, gravel, nark, nettle, rag, rile, vex. "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves"

Excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame. Antonym: soothe.

Excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus.

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"Irritate" Quotes from Famous Books

... turned reproachfully towards Madame Langai. "Why did you irritate him when he was mad enough already?" he cried. "What will you gain by his death? He has a son who will inherit everything, you know. Yes, everything will belong ...

— The Poor Plutocrats • Maurus Jokai

... is requisite on the part of the mind to perfect and sublime wisdom, but also all that can be required on the part of the will or the manners, in which benignity and gentleness are so conjoined with majesty that, though fortune has attacked you with continued injustice, it has failed either to irritate or crush you. And this constrains me to such veneration that I not only think this work due to you, since it treats of philosophy which is the study of wisdom, but likewise feel not more zeal for my reputation as a philosopher ...

— The Principles of Philosophy • Rene Descartes

... all Dick said, but the smile he gave Mr. Graylock seemed to irritate that gentleman more ...

— Dick the Bank Boy - Or, A Missing Fortune • Frank V. Webster

... Chinese characters, and according, to their custom. And although I did not think that such appeals should be listened to, and gave my reason therefor, still the auditors persisted in endeavoring to try this case. In order not to irritate them, I have overlooked the matter, as it seemed to me that they could act in this case with less evil consequences than in the others. I advise your Majesty of it, petitioning you that it may be to your royal service to have the Audiencia notified as to what regulations ...

— The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume XXII, 1625-29 • Various

... the forest. At the first glance, they appeared like dwelling places; and, knowing something of the habits of the Indians, Rodolph and two of his companions approached them warily, fearing to surprise and irritate the inhabitants. But after making a circuit, and ascertaining that these supposed huts had no doorways, they went up to them, and found them to be solid mounds, at the foot of which neatly plaited baskets, filled with ears of maize, were placed. These were eagerly seized upon; and a further search ...

— The Pilgrims of New England - A Tale Of The Early American Settlers • Mrs. J. B. Webb

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