irks
Gets one's goat
Irks means annoys or irritates, usually in a mild but persistent way.
What irks you gets under your skin without rising to real anger: It irks me when people don't use their turn signals.
The word suggests petty grievances rather than serious offenses.
Provokes mild anger
- bothersCauses irritation or disturbance
- annoysCauses petty irritation
- vexesCauses annoyance or distress
- aggravatesMakes more severe
peeves · grates · nettles · riles · bugs · rankles · chafes · frustrates
Crossed bars or harsh
- wearingHaving clothing on
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- gnawingPersistent biting action
- festeringBecoming infected, decaying
simmering · lingering · recurring · chronic · ongoing · constant · relentless · unrelenting
Minor, pedantic criticisms
- pet peevesPersonal sources of irritation
- trivialitiesInsignificant matters
- nuisancesSources of petty irritation
- small stuffTrivial concerns or details
trifles · quibbles · nags · pestering · hassles · bickering · fussing · carping
irritates
Provokes mild anger
- bothersCauses irritation or disturbance
- annoysCauses petty irritation
- vexesCauses annoyance or distress
aggravates · peeves · grates · nettles · riles · bugs · rankles · chafes · frustrates · exasperates
grating
Crossed bars or harsh
festering · simmering · lingering · recurring · chronic · ongoing · constant · relentless · unrelenting · repeated
nitpicks
Minor, pedantic criticisms
- pet peevesPersonal sources of irritation
- trivialitiesInsignificant matters
- nuisancesSources of petty irritation
small stuff · trifles · quibbles · nags · pestering · hassles · bickering · fussing · carping · gripes
- annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
- mocksmocks, teases, ridicules, taunts, jeers
- promptsprompt, prompts, prompting, cue, hint