IRRITATING
annoying, bothersome, galling, irritating, nettlesome, pesky, pestering, pestiferous, plaguy, plaguey, teasing, vexatious, vexing
(adjective) causing irritation or annoyance; “tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork”; “aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport”; “found it galling to have to ask permission”; “an irritating delay”; “nettlesome paperwork”; “a pesky mosquito”; “swarms of pestering gnats”; “a plaguey newfangled safety catch”; “a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him”; “a vexatious child”; “it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong”
irritating, painful
(adjective) causing physical discomfort; “bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful”
irritating, irritative
(adjective) (used of physical stimuli) serving to stimulate or excite; “an irritative agent”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Adjective
irritating (comparative more irritating, superlative most irritating)
Causing irritation, annoyance or pain.
Stimulating or exciting a response.
Synonyms
• See also annoying
Verb
irritating
present participle of irritate
Source: Wiktionary
IRRITATE
Ir"ri*tate, v. t. Etym: [See 1 st Irritant.]
Definition: To render null and void. [R.] Abp. Bramhall.
Ir"ri*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Irritated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Irritating.] Etym: [L. irritatus, p. p. of irritare. Of doubtful
origin.]
1. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in;
to intensify; to stimulate.
Cold maketh the spirits vigorous and irritateth them. Bacon.
2. To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease; to
exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates
his subjects.
Dismiss the man, nor irritate the god: Prevent the rage of him who
reigns above. Pope.
3. (Physiol.)
Definition: To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to cause to contract.
See Irritation, n., 2.
4. (Med.)
Definition: To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the
skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse
bandage.
Syn.
– To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex; exasperate; anger;
incense; enrage.
– To Irritate, Provoke, Exasperate. These words express different
stages of excited or angry feeling. Irritate denotes an excitement of
quick and slightly angry feeling which is only momentary; as,
irritated by a hasty remark. To provoke implies the awakening of some
open expression of decided anger; as, a provoking insult. Exasperate
denotes a provoking of anger at something unendurable. Whatever comes
across our feelings irritates; whatever excites anger provokes;
whatever raises anger to a high point exasperates. "Susceptible and
nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly
provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated." Crabb.
Ir"ri*tate, a.
Definition: Excited; heightened. [Obs.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition