as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
she irked her friend by chewing her gum loudly during the movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
one of the prof's major irks is a cell phone that rings during a lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of irk
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Even supporters of the president’s architectural ethos have been irked by his demolition of White House’s East Wing to make room for the party space.
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Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Washington Post,
22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for irk
Verb
Underpinning it all, and a big part of why Grella’s words touched a raw nerve, is a spiky rivalry between the two sporting nations that carries some angst and underdog annoyance, and has the Australian public and national team genuinely irked.
—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Even supporters of the president’s architectural ethos have been irked by his demolition of White House’s East Wing to make room for the party space.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Noun
The violence gets worse from there, and somehow all that is supposed to fit into a show about a Washington socialite whose biggest irk in the premiere is her rivalry with the first lady.
—
Washington Post,
22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for irk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irk
Verb
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Paraguay’s tactics, seeking to frustrate and disrupt France, had annoyed Henry as well as the current team and coach.
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Others are annoyed that its ambiguous language will create confusion over how — or if — the state will enforce compliance.
Noun
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Intense exercise on a sizzling day can lead to extreme fatigue, impaired performance, headache, irritability, nausea, dizziness, cramping and dehydration, all symptoms of exertional heat illness.
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Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid.
Verb
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Playing against such younger competition doesn’t bother Crawford.
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Install Fencing If all deterrents fail and snakes continue to bother you, consider installing a 2- to 3-foot fence around your property.
Noun
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And to add insult to social and cultural injury, the new policies also present a logistical nuisance.
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In New York, night clubs were sometimes regarded as a civic nuisance; one obstacle was the city’s cabaret law, from 1926, which required bars to obtain a special permit if patrons were dancing and was not fully repealed until 2017.
Verb
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Avoid potentially irritating actives Immediately after shaving is not the time to reach for your strongest skin-care products.
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While some of my linen pieces feel scratchy, this one is ultra soft and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.
Noun
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Yamal was a thorn in Saudi Arabia’s side, drifting infield to unleash shots from distance but also peppering the penalty area with wicked deliveries from the right flank.
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An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.
Verb
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What really bugs me about this moment, and about the battle and its aftermath, is the lack of feeling.
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The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
Noun
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This would let traffic flow, which is so necessary for the vitality and economy of Chicago; provide a safer route for bikers; and ease the frustration of all of those on the streets of Chicago.
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Spence also appears to be absorbing the blame for broader failures, with Thomas Tuchel’s touchline frustrations obvious and — for a player still establishing himself at this level — that scrutiny is unlikely to help.
Cite this Entry
“Irk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irk. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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