Thesaurus: irritate

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Definitions

1. v. t. To render null and void.
2. v. t. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in; to intensify; to stimulate.
3. v. t. To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects.
4. v. t. To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to cause to contract. See Irritation, n., 2.
5. n. To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse bandage.
6. a. Excited; heightened.
7. v. cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
8. v. excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame
9. v. excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus
10. To render null and void. [R.] Abp. Bramhall. 1. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in; to intensify; to stimulate. Cold maketh the spirits vigorous and irritateth them. Bacon. 2. To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects. Dismiss the man, nor irritate the god: Prevent the rage of him who reigns above. Pope. 3. (Physiol.) To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to cause to contract. See Irritation, n., 2. 4. (Med.) To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse bandage. Syn. -- To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex; exasperate; anger; incense; enrage. -- To Irritate, Provoke, Exasperate. These words express different stages of excited or angry feeling. Irritate denotes an excitement of quick and slightly angry feeling which is only momentary; as, irritated by a hasty remark. To provoke implies the awakening of some open expression of decided anger; as, a provoking insult. Exasperate denotes a provoking of anger at something unendurable. Whatever comes across our feelings irritates; whatever excites anger provokes; whatever raises anger to a high point exasperates. "Susceptible and nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated." Crabb. Excited; heightened. [Obs.]
11. To render null and void. [R.] Abp. Bramhall.
12. v:100 v. excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame v. excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus