What does "irritation" mean?
The act of irritating or annoying.
Irritation
/ˌɪɹɪˈteɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of irritating or annoying.
- Grammar: irritation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: annoyance, provocation, vexation, adverse circumstances.
- Useful contrasts: appeasement, calm, calmness.
- Usage evidence: There was no irritation on his part.
How to use "irritation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "irritation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "irritation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "irritation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "irritation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "irritation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "annoyance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "irritation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of irritating or annoying. countable, uncountable
"What irritation causes you to be so moody?"
- 2 the act of troubling or annoying someone wordnet
- 3 The state of being irritated. countable, uncountable
"It has already been established that the crew was competent and qualified for operation of AS66. With the exception of some overtones of irritation about the manner in which another aircraft, N799Y, affected the flight's progress into the Juneau area, the recorded cockpit conversation, in general, reflects a relaxed but businesslike atmosphere."
- 4 unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment wordnet
- 5 A thing or person that annoys. countable, uncountable
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 an uncomfortable feeling of mental painfulness or distress wordnet
- 7 A state of inflammation or of painful reaction to cell or tissue damage. countable, uncountable
- 8 a sudden outburst of anger wordnet
- 9 A condition of morbid excitability or oversensitiveness of an organ or part of the body; a state in which the application of ordinary stimuli produces pain or excessive or vitiated action. countable, uncountable
"Hip pain is a common complaint in children and may indicate a very mild irritation in the hip joint or may be the symptom of a very severe abnormality"
- 10 the neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland wordnet
- 11 the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed wordnet
- 12 (pathology) abnormal sensitivity to stimulation wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"There was no irritation on his part."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "irritation"?
Common synonyms include: annoyance, provocation, vexation, adverse circumstances, adversity, affliction.
How do you use "irritation" in a sentence?
There was no irritation on his part.
How do you pronounce "irritation"?
Pronounced /ˌɪɹɪˈteɪʃən/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French irritation, from Latin irrītātiō, from irrītāre (“to excite”).