irritant

[ ir-i-tnt ]

adjective

1. tending to cause irritation; irritating. irritating.

noun

1. anything that irritates.
2. Physiology, Pathology. a biological, chemical, or physical agent that stimulates a characteristic function or elicits a response, especially an inflammatory response.

irritant

/ ˈɪrɪtənt /

adjective

1. causing irritation; irritating

noun

1. something irritant

Derived Forms

• ˈirritancy, noun

Other Words From

• irri·tan·cy noun
• non·irri·tan·cy noun
• non·irri·tant adjective
• un·irri·tant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of irritant¹

1630–40; < Latin irrītant- (stem of irrītāns ), present participle of irrītāre to irritate; -ant

Example Sentences

Entering the tunnel, Johnston helped other rioters flush chemical irritants out of their eyes.

From Los Angeles Times

While Hasina’s stay in India remains an irritant, a recent interview by Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus also took India by surprise.

From BBC

Protesters, meanwhile, accused officers of being heavy-handed - using flashbang grenades and irritant sprays to control the crowds.

From BBC

There were widespread reports of people coughing and gagging on the smoke, feeling short of breath and suffering from eye pain due to the irritants in the air.

From Salon

Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath and is caused by long-term exposure to airborne irritants including tobacco smoke, according to the Mayo Clinic.

From Los Angeles Times