: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce physical irritation
Synonyms
Examples of irritant in a Sentence
Noun
dust and other lung irritants
The delay was a minor irritant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Kwan, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Image How Trump redefined the Jan. 6 riot as ‘a day of love’
Four years ago today, protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol with clubs, chemical irritants and other weapons, inflamed by Donald Trump’s lie that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Avi Nelson, Boston Herald, 30 Oct. 2024
Officials warned residents not to touch the substance after initially saying some of the snow measured a pH level of 10, making the substance an alkali and a skin irritant.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irritant 
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Noun
Do gentle hip stretches to keep muscles relaxed. Stay hydrated, but avoid bladder irritants like soda or coffee.
—Amy Kwan, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Image How Trump redefined the Jan. 6 riot as ‘a day of love’
Four years ago today, protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol with clubs, chemical irritants and other weapons, inflamed by Donald Trump’s lie that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Trump’s supporters focus on policy matters and downplay his personality issues as merely an irritant.
—Avi Nelson, Boston Herald, 30 Oct. 2024
Officials warned residents not to touch the substance after initially saying some of the snow measured a pH level of 10, making the substance an alkali and a skin irritant.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irritant
Dictionary Entries Near irritant
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritant. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irritant
1 of 2 adjective
ir·ri·tant
ˈir-ə-tənt 
: tending to produce anger, annoyance, impatience, soreness, or inflammation
especially
: tending to produce physical irritation
irritant
2 of 2 noun
: something that irritates
Medical Definition
irritant
1 of 2 adjective
ir·ri·tant
ˈir-ə-tənt
: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce inflammation
irritant
2 of 2 noun
: something that irritates or excites
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