Irritating: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something that consistently causes slight anger or discomfort without being truly serious.

• The constant buzzing of the fly was irritating him while he tried to read

Used to express a general sense of mild displeasure or inconvenience caused by someone's actions or a situation.

• It was annoying when he kept interrupting her during the meeting

Used in a more casual context to describe something that causes slight discomfort or inconvenience without serious impact.

• The mosquitoes were bothersome during the camping trip

Typically used when something makes an already bad situation worse or more serious. Often implies increasing frustration.

• The loud construction noise was aggravating her headache

Used in more formal or literary situations to describe something that causes significant frustration or worry.

• The unsolved puzzle was becoming quite vexing for the detective

Used to describe something that is tedious or repetitive, causing dissatisfaction or boredom.

• Filling out endless forms can be quite irksome