IRRITATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does irritation mean? 

• IRRITATION (noun)
  The noun IRRITATION has 7 senses:

1. the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

2. a sudden outburst of anger

3. (pathology) abnormal sensitivity to stimulation

4. the neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland

5. an uncomfortable feeling of mental painfulness or distress

6. unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment

7. the act of troubling or annoying someone

  Familiarity information: IRRITATION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IRRITATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

annoyance; botheration; irritation; vexation

Hypernyms ("irritation" is a kind of...):

mental condition; mental state; psychological condition; psychological state ((psychology) a mental condition in which the qualities of a state are relatively constant even though the state itself may be dynamic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "irritation"):

bummer (an experience that is irritating or frustrating or disappointing)

huff; miff; seeing red (a state of irritation or annoyance)

pinprick (a minor annoyance)

impatience; restlessness (a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay)

snit (a state of agitated irritation)

Derivation:

irritate (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sudden outburst of anger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

irritation; pique; temper

Context example:

his temper sparked like damp firewood

Hypernyms ("irritation" is a kind of...):

annoyance; chafe; vexation (anger produced by some annoying irritation)

Derivation:

irritate (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(pathology) abnormal sensitivity to stimulation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

any food produced irritation of the stomach

Hypernyms ("irritation" is a kind of...):

abnormalcy; abnormality (an abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficiencies)

sensitisation; sensitization (the state of being sensitive (as to an antigen))

Domain category:

pathology (the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases)

Derivation:

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

excitation; innervation; irritation

Hypernyms ("irritation" is a kind of...):

arousal (a state of heightened physiological activity)

Derivation:

irritate (excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An uncomfortable feeling of mental painfulness or distress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

discomfort; irritation; soreness

Hypernyms ("irritation" is a kind of...):

hurt; suffering (feelings of mental or physical pain)

Derivation:

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

aggravation; irritation; provocation

Hypernyms ("irritation" is a kind of...):

aggression (deliberately unfriendly behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "irritation"):

aggro ((informal British usage) aggravation or aggression)

last straw (the final irritation that stretches your patience beyond the limit)

taunt; taunting; twit (aggravation by deriding or mocking or criticizing)

Derivation:

irritate (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The act of troubling or annoying someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

annoyance; annoying; irritation; vexation

Hypernyms ("irritation" is a kind of...):

mistreatment (the practice of treating (someone or something) badly)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "irritation"):

exasperation (actions that cause great irritation (or even anger))

red flag (something that irritates or demands immediate action)

Derivation:

irritate (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

 Context examples 

Calendula-based skin products have been used to treat minor cuts, burns, and skin irritation.

(Calendula ointment, NCI Dictionary)

A sensation of stinging or heat, not necessarily accompanied by redness or physical signs of irritation.

(Burning Sensation, NCI Thesaurus)

Exposure to chlorendic acid causes skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation.

(Chlorendic Acid, NCI Thesaurus)

Exposure to this substance causes severe skin irritation and affects the small intestine leading to severe diarrhea.

(Croton Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

Exposure to this substance causes skin irritation and sensitization.

(Dianisidine, NCI Thesaurus)

This irritation causes scar tissue to form, and makes breathing difficult.

(Bronchiolitis obliterans, NCI Dictionary)

Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible that any attempt to reason with her or soothe her would only increase the irritation.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Martin nodded, but felt a rasp of irritation.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Acute exposure to its vapors results in irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.

(Acetaldehyde, NCI Thesaurus)

It is frequently associated with long-standing local irritation.

(Bladder Adenocarcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)