irritate
Get under skin
Irritate means to annoy or provoke mild anger: His constant humming irritated everyone in the office.
The word suggests persistent, low-grade aggravation rather than explosive fury.
In medical contexts, irritate describes physical inflammation or sensitivity: Smoke irritates the eyes.
The rough fabric irritated her skin.
Something irritating produces this effect; an irritant is the cause.
Annoy with persistence
- botherTo annoy or disturb
- nagPester repeatedly
- harassPersistently torment someone
- badgerNag persistently
provoke · vex · exasperate · irk · gall · nettle · peeve · ruffle
Anger greatly, or aromatic resin
ire · inflame · antagonize · embitter · offend · affront · outrage · rub wrong way
Irritate by friction
- inflameIntensify emotion or irritation
- rednessCrimson-hued state
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- itchUrge to scratch
sting · burn · sore · raw · blister · abrade · scratch · scrape
Annoy to frustration
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
- disheartenCause to lose hope
- discourageDiminish someone's confidence
- dispiritCause to lose hope
discontent · dissatisfy · thwart · stymie · foil · disappoint · wear down
Cause unease or anxiety
- perturbTo disturb deeply
- flusterAgitated confusion
- rufflePleated fabric edging
- disturbInterrupt or trouble
disquiet · disconcert · unnerve · rattle · discompose · throw off · stir up
Protective tissue response
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- allergicAdversely reactive to substances
- reactiveTending to respond
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
lesion · ulcerate · erythema · pustule · antihistamine · topical · corticosteroid · histamine
pester
Annoy with persistence
badger · provoke · vex · exasperate · irk · gall · nettle · peeve · ruffle · displease
incense
Anger greatly, or aromatic resin
pique · ire · inflame · antagonize · embitter · offend · affront · outrage · rub wrong way · get under skin
chafe
Irritate by friction
itch · sting · burn · sore · raw · blister · abrade · scratch · scrape · hives
exasperate
Annoy to frustration
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
- disheartenCause to lose hope
- discourageDiminish someone's confidence
dispirit · discontent · dissatisfy · thwart · stymie · foil · disappoint · wear down
unsettle
Cause unease or anxiety
disturb · disquiet · disconcert · unnerve · rattle · discompose · throw off · stir up
inflammation
Protective tissue response
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- allergicAdversely reactive to substances
- reactiveTending to respond
hypersensitive · lesion · ulcerate · erythema · pustule · antihistamine · topical · corticosteroid · histamine · mucous membrane
- skin irritationInflamed epidermal condition
- eye irritationDiscomfort in the organ of sight
- throat irritationDiscomfort in the gullet
- irritable bowel syndromeFunctional gastrointestinal disorder
- irritable bowelTemperamental intestinal condition
- skin irritantsAgents provoking dermal reactions
irritable, irritation, irritating, irritated, irritant, irritability, irritates, irritably, irritations