irritant
tending to cause irritation; irritating.
anything that irritates.
Physiology, Pathology. a biological, chemical, or physical agent that stimulates a characteristic function or elicits a response, especially an inflammatory response.
Compare Meanings
Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.
Origin of irritant
1Other words from irritant
- ir·ri·tan·cy, noun
- non·ir·ri·tan·cy, noun
- non·ir·ri·tant, adjective
- un·ir·ri·tant, adjective
Words Nearby irritant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use irritant in a sentence
They are already free of aluminum, but these formulas are often free of other common irritants, such as dyes and artificial fragrances.
Best aluminum-free deodorant: Keep odor at bay naturally with these formulations | Irena Collaku | August 23, 2021 | Popular-ScienceEven your chest may hurt as you breathe irritants into your lungs.
Warning: Wildfires might make you itch | Kathiann Kowalski | June 3, 2021 | Science News For StudentsThe surge overwhelmed a small group of Capitol Police officers, but a blast of irritant spray drove Schaffer back outside after nine minutes, his bear spray still in hand.
Hundreds of people stormed the Capitol. Most won’t face hefty prison terms, legal experts say. | Tom Jackman, Spencer Hsu | May 13, 2021 | Washington PostPolice say that once a riot is declared, they may use chemical irritants and other crowd-control devices.
After the death of George Floyd, lawmakers in Md., Va. and D.C. set out to hold police more accountable. Here are some key measures. | Ovetta Wiggins, Peter Hermann, Tom Jackman | May 6, 2021 | Washington PostTwo people have been charged with assaulting Sicknick by spraying him with a chemical irritant.
D.C. medical examiner releases cause of death for four people who died during Capitol riot | Peter Hermann, Steve Thompson | April 7, 2021 | Washington Post
That said, Braff has always seemed like a minor irritant, and I never gave any real thought to why he bugged me.
The Republicans are a constant irritant, willing to sacrifice their own standing as long as they can drag him down with them.
The Obama Political Obituaries Are Way Premature | Michael Tomasky | December 19, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTAn even smaller minority goes and returns so frequently that these lines can be an irritant.
This Be Madness! America’s Outrageously Long and Totally Unacceptable Customs Lines | Daniel Gross | June 21, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST“We averted what was building up to be a major irritant,” says Robert Killebrew, a retired Army colonel.
As compared to that, Israel/Palestine is old hat, and at most a peripheral irritant.
From a clinical study of Rhus poisoning, Pfaff came to the conclusion that the poison must be a non-volatile skin irritant.
Some Constituents of the Poison Ivy Plant: (Rhus Toxicodendron) | William Anderson SymeShe was finding a species of salve for her own disappointment in this irritant applied to another.
The Butterfly House | Mary E. Wilkins FreemanThe latter, like the former, is used as an external irritant.
The oxalic acid in sorrel is an irritant poison, causing retching and violent pains.
Irish Witchcraft and Demonology | St. John D. (St. John Drelincourt) SeymourWhen the children were growing up and in the crucial stage of adolescence, the father was like some ugly irritant to their souls.
Sons and Lovers | David Herbert Lawrence
British Dictionary definitions for irritant
/ (ˈɪrɪtənt) /
causing irritation; irritating
something irritant
Derived forms of irritant
- irritancy, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse