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- pronunciation:
- I
rih
teIt
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Explorer, Grammatical Patterns
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
irritates, irritating, irritated |
| definition 1: |
to anger or annoy.
Her petty complaints sometimes irritate her co-workers.It irritates him that his wife works on the weekends.[it + verb + smby + that + clause
]
It irritates me when you make that noise.[it + verb + smby + when + clause
]
- synonyms:
- annoy, irk, nettle, peeve, rile, vex
- antonyms:
- enchant, pacify
- similar words:
- aggravate, anger, bother, bug, exasperate, gall, grate, gripe, miff, pester, rasp, ruffle, trouble
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| definition 2: |
to set off some characteristic physical function or response in (living tissue), or make abnormally sensitive; excite; inflame.
- synonyms:
- excite, inflame
- antonyms:
- soothe
- similar words:
- aggravate, elicit, exacerbate, incite, induce, provoke, stimulate
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| related words: |
ail, antagonize, badger, chafe, devil, embitter, fray, fret, gnaw, harass, incense, jar, madden, pain, persecute, torment, worry |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to provoke anger or annoyance.
- synonyms:
- annoy
- similar words:
- ruffle
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| definition 2: |
to stimulate a characteristic function or response, or produce a sensitive or inflamed condition, in living tissue.
- similar words:
- stimulate
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| related words: |
burn, gall, jar |
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| derivation: |
irritator (n.) |
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