: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce physical irritation
Synonyms
Examples of irritant in a Sentence
Noun
dust and other lung irritants
The delay was a minor irritant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2024
These ingredients will work together to reinforce your skin barrier, protecting the skin from irritants that might trigger a flare-up.
—Alice Oglethorpe, SELF, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for irritant 
Noun
During that protest, law enforcement officers and tactical units dressed in riot gear clashed with protesters and used rubber bullets and chemical irritants to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment and protest on the University of Arizona campus and adjacent streets.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2024
These ingredients will work together to reinforce your skin barrier, protecting the skin from irritants that might trigger a flare-up.
—Alice Oglethorpe, SELF, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for irritant
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irritant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near irritant
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritant. Accessed 14 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irritant
1 of 2 adjective
ir·ri·tant
ˈir-ə-tənt 
: tending to produce anger, annoyance, impatience, soreness, or inflammation
especially
: tending to produce physical irritation
irritant
2 of 2 noun
: something that irritates
Medical Definition
irritant
1 of 2 adjective
ir·ri·tant
ˈir-ə-tənt
: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce inflammation
irritant
2 of 2 noun
: something that irritates or excites
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