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Itchiness: meaning, definitions and examples

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itchiness

[ ˈɪtʃɪnəs ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

feeling

The sensation of having an itch on the skin, often causing a desire to scratch.

Synonyms

itching, pruritus.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
itchiness	This word is commonly used in everyday conversations to describe the general sensation of needing to scratch a part of your body. It is not overly technical and is easy for most people to understand. I have some itchiness on my arm where the mosquito bit me. The new wool sweater is causing me a lot of itchiness.
itching	Similar to 'itchiness', but it is often used more actively or descriptively. It might appear in both casual and somewhat formal contexts, referring to the act of experiencing an itch. My back is itching; I think I touched some poison ivy. She couldn't stop scratching due to intense itching from her allergy.
pruritus	This is a medical term used primarily by healthcare professionals to describe the symptom of itching. It is rarely used in everyday conversations and is more likely to be found in medical reports or scientific discussions. The patient reported pruritus localized in the lower extremities. Pruritus can be a symptom of various dermatological conditions.

Word

Description / Examples

itchiness

This word is commonly used in everyday conversations to describe the general sensation of needing to scratch a part of your body. It is not overly technical and is easy for most people to understand.

I have some itchiness on my arm where the mosquito bit me.
The new wool sweater is causing me a lot of itchiness.

itching

Similar to 'itchiness', but it is often used more actively or descriptively. It might appear in both casual and somewhat formal contexts, referring to the act of experiencing an itch.

My back is itching; I think I touched some poison ivy.
She couldn't stop scratching due to intense itching from her allergy.

pruritus

This is a medical term used primarily by healthcare professionals to describe the symptom of itching. It is rarely used in everyday conversations and is more likely to be found in medical reports or scientific discussions.

The patient reported pruritus localized in the lower extremities.
Pruritus can be a symptom of various dermatological conditions.

Examples of usage

I couldn't concentrate on my work because of the constant itchiness on my arm.
She experienced extreme itchiness after being bitten by mosquitoes.
The itchiness on his back was driving him crazy.
The itchiness subsided after applying a soothing cream.
I tried to ignore the itchiness, but it became unbearable.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

medical

A condition characterized by the need to scratch the skin due to irritation or inflammation.

Synonyms

itching, pruritus.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
itchiness	Itchiness often describes a general feeling of needing to scratch the skin. It is commonly used in everyday conversation. I have a lot of itchiness after the insect bite
itching	Itching is more frequently used to describe the actual act of feeling itchy. It can be used in both casual conversation and medical contexts. My arm is itching from the mosquito bites
pruritus	Pruritus is the medical term for itchiness and is primarily used in clinical or formal settings. The doctor diagnosed the patient with pruritus due to an allergic reaction

Word

Description / Examples

itchiness

Itchiness often describes a general feeling of needing to scratch the skin. It is commonly used in everyday conversation.

I have a lot of itchiness after the insect bite

itching

Itching is more frequently used to describe the actual act of feeling itchy. It can be used in both casual conversation and medical contexts.

My arm is itching from the mosquito bites

pruritus

Pruritus is the medical term for itchiness and is primarily used in clinical or formal settings.

The doctor diagnosed the patient with pruritus due to an allergic reaction

Examples of usage

The doctor prescribed a lotion to relieve the itchiness caused by the allergic reaction.
She suffered from chronic itchiness as a side effect of the medication.
The itchiness was a symptom of the skin infection.
Scratching the affected area only increased the itchiness.
The itchiness persisted despite various treatments.

Translations

Translations of the word "itchiness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 coceira

🇮🇳 खुजली

🇩🇪 Juckreiz

🇮🇩 gatal

🇺🇦 свербіж

🇵🇱 swędzenie

🇯🇵 かゆみ

🇫🇷 démangeaison

🇪🇸 picazón

🇹🇷 kaşıntı

🇰🇷 가려움증

🇸🇦 حكة

🇨🇿 svědění

🇸🇰 svrbenie

🇨🇳 瘙痒

🇸🇮 srbenje

🇮🇸 kláði

🇰🇿 қышу

🇬🇪 ქავილი

🇦🇿 qaşınma

🇲🇽 comezón

Etymology

The word 'itchiness' is derived from the Middle English word 'itch', which can be traced back to the Old English word 'giccan'. The sensation of itchiness has been a common human experience throughout history, with various remedies and treatments used to alleviate the discomfort. Itchiness can be caused by a wide range of factors, including insect bites, allergies, skin conditions, and dryness. Understanding the underlying cause of itchiness is important in determining the appropriate treatment.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,811, 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.

...
39808 baksheesh
39809 onside
39810 secateurs
39811 itchiness
39812 funnelling
39813 eventuating
39814 unskillfully
...