Irritatingly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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irritatingly

[ษชหˆrษชteษชtษชล‹li ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

used to describe an action or behavior

In an irritating or annoying manner.

Synonyms

annoyingly, provokingly, vexatiously.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
irritatingly

Used when something or someone is causing minor, but persistent discomfort or minor annoyance.

  • He kept tapping his pen irritatingly during the entire meeting
annoyingly

Appropriate for situations where actions or behaviors cause mild anger or frustration, often due to repetition or insensitivity.

  • She annoyingly interrupted me every few minutes while I was trying to explain
vexatiously

Refers to actions that are deliberately intended to cause trouble or distress, often with a sense of spite or malice.

  • The neighbor vexatiously played loud music late at night to disturb everyone
provokingly

Used when actions or behavior are intentionally performed to provoke a reaction, often stronger than mere irritation, leading to anger or conflict.

  • He spoke provokingly, knowing it would make his colleagues upset

Examples of usage

  • She spoke irritatingly loud during the movie.
  • He tapped his fingers irritatingly on the table.
  • The machine beeped irritatingly every few seconds.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • When an action is irritating, it can trigger the fight-or-flight response, causing a physical reaction like increased heart rate.
  • Studies show that repetitive annoying sounds can increase stress levels in people, demonstrating the emotional effects of irritants.
  • Irritation can affect concentration and lead to decreased productivity in tasks, as it creates mental distraction.

Pop Culture

  • Comedians often play on irritating behaviors in their routines, highlighting how relatable annoyance can be for audiences.
  • In films, characters who are irritating often serve as comic relief, creating tension and humor through their annoying traits.
  • Popular songs sometimes explore themes of irritation in relationships, illustrating how small annoyances can lead to bigger conflicts.

Literature

  • Writers often use irritating characters to develop conflict, showing how these traits lead to growth or resolution in the story.
  • Irritating dialogue can highlight personality differences in characters, making narratives more engaging and realistic.
  • Classic literature often features irritating traits to symbolize larger societal issues, provoking thought and discussion in readers.

Origin of 'irritatingly'

Main points about word origin

  • 'Irritatingly' comes from the verb 'irritate,' which has roots in Latin, meaning to 'make angry' or 'excite.'
  • The '-ly' ending transforms the adjective 'irritating' into an adverb, showing how something is done.
  • The term has been widely used in English since the late 19th century to describe bothersome actions or behaviors.

The word 'irritatingly' is derived from the verb 'irritate', which comes from the Latin word 'irritare', meaning 'to excite, provoke'. The adverb form 'irritatingly' has been used in English language to describe actions or behaviors that cause annoyance or frustration since the 19th century.


See also: irritable, irritably, irritated, irritating, irritation, irritator.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,443, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.