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English verb: irritate

1. irritate (emotion) cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations


SamplesMosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me.
It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves.


ExamplesThe bad news will irritate him, The performance is likely to irritate Sue


Synonymsannoy, bother, chafe, devil, get at, get to, gravel, nark, nettle, rag, rile, vex


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody.
Something ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)displease


Narrower (hyponym)antagonise, antagonize, beset, chevvy, chevy, chivvy, chivy, eat into, fret, fret, get, get under one's skin, grate, harass, harry, hassle, molest, peeve, plague, provoke, rankle, ruffle


Verb groupchafe

2. irritate (body) excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame


SamplesAspirin irritates my stomach.


Pattern of useSomething ----s somebody.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate, worsen


Narrower (hyponym)chafe, fret, gall, itch, rub, scratch


Antonymssoothe

3. irritate (change) excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus


SamplesIrritate the glands of a leaf.


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)excite, stimulate


Narrower (hyponym)pinch, vellicate


Domain categoryphysiology









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