How to Use irritate in a Sentence

irritate

verb
  • Harsh soaps can irritate the skin.
  • The other passengers were irritated by the child's rudeness.
  • It's his arrogance that really irritates me.
  • That gas can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Bleach can irritate the eyes and skin.
    — Jamie Friedlander Serrano, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
  • These are the little things that irritate the hell out of me.
    — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 7 June 2023
  • All of the items are made of polyester satin which won’t irritate your skin or snag your hair.
    — Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023
  • Other kinds of shoes might irritate your bunion as well.
    — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Note that the strength of this treatment could sting or irritate skin.
    — Nicole Saporita, Good Housekeeping, 20 June 2023
  • Too much of either can irritate your scalp and eyes.
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
  • When midges bite, a small welt can emerge that can be itchy and irritating.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
  • This set is made of a breathable polyester blend that won’t irritate skin.
    — Ashley Mateo, WSJ, 16 Jan. 2019
  • The best arm warmers fit well, stay in place and don’t irritate the skin.
    — Melissa Nott, chicagotribune.com, 17 Apr. 2021
  • Your dog should not wear the e-collar at all times, as this can irritate the skin.
    — Lauren Farrell, chicagotribune.com, 17 Apr. 2021
  • That gas irritates the nose and lungs, which makes those parts of the body work harder.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Too many or poorly timed nudges irritate users.
    — Prithvi Singh Shergill, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • And even those that are safe for down there can still irritate — or burn — your skin if left on for too long.
    — Leah Campano, Seventeen, 9 Feb. 2023
  • Wear gloves to avoid irritating your skin.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Wear gloves to avoid irritating your skin.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Williams was irritated by the way she was treated at the net.
    — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 July 2019
  • Marigolds can also irritate the skin and cause a rash in some people.
    — Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Too much of either can strip moisture from your hair and even irritate your scalp.
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025
  • This eye cream has not irritated me one bit and it’s been once month since using.
    — Lindy Segal, harpersbazaar.com, 16 May 2023
  • This is, at the very least, irritating.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
  • What surprised me the most is how the fragrance doesn’t irritate my skin.
    — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
  • What surprised me the most is how the fragrance doesn’t irritate my skin.
    — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Rinse your dog off after a swim as well — chlorine and salt can irritate their skin.
    — Bethany Ao, Philly.com, 28 June 2018
  • Dress them in soft fabrics and light layers that won't irritate their skin.
    — Parents Editors, Parents, 25 Oct. 2023
  • And, if so, what kind of substance irritates its victims to death?
    — Siddhartha Mukherjee, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
  • But velellas have small stingers that can irritate a dog’s mouth and stomach.
    — Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 21 May 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irritate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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