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irritating |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Irritate \Ir"ri*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Irritated}; p. pr & vb n. {Irritating}.] [L. irritatus p. p. of irritare. Of doubtful origin.] 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. Usage: 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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: irritating adj 1: causing irritation or annoyance; "tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork"; "aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport"; "found it galling to have to ask permission"; "an irritating delay"; "nettlesome paperwork"; "a pesky mosquito"; "swarms of pestering gnats"; "a plaguey newfangled safety catch"; "a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him"; "a vexatious child"; "it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong" [syn: {annoying}, {bothersome}, {galling}, {nettlesome}, {pesky}, {pestering}, {pestiferous}, {plaguy}, {plaguey}, {teasing}, {vexatious}, {vexing}] 2: (used of physical stimuli) serving to stimulate or excite; "an irritative agent" [syn: {irritative}] 3: causing physical discomfort; "bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful" [syn: {painful}]
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