Definition of 'irritate'

Verb

1. cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves"
      Synonyms: annoy rag get to bother get at rile nark nettle gravel vex chafe devil
2. excite to an abnormal condition, of chafe or inflame; "Aspirin irritates my stomach"
      Antonyms: soothe
3. excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus; "irritate the glands of a leaf"

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