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irritate
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English Dictionary: IRRITATE by the DICT Development Group
4 results for IRRITATE
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
irritate
v
  1. cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves"
    Synonym(s): annoy, rag, get to, bother, get at, irritate, rile, nark, nettle, gravel, vex, chafe, devil
  2. excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame; "Aspirin irritates my stomach"
    Antonym(s): soothe
  3. excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus; "irritate the glands of a leaf"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Irritate \Ir"ri*tate\, v. t. [See 1 st {Irritant}.]
      To render null and void. [R.] --Abp. Bramhall.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Irritate \Ir"ri*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Irritated}; p. pr. &
      vb. n. {Irritating}.] [L. irritatus, p. p. of irritare. Of
      doubtful origin.]
      1. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten
            excitement in; to intensify; to stimulate.
  
                     Cold maketh the spirits vigorous and irritateth
                     them.                                                --Bacon.
  
      2. To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease;
            to exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a
            tyrant irritates his subjects.
  
                     Dismiss the man, nor irritate the god: Prevent the
                     rage of him who reigns above.            --Pope.
  
      3. (Physiol.) To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to
            cause to contract. See {Irritation}, n., 2.
  
      4. (Med.) To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to
            fret; as, the skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a
            wound by a coarse bandage.
  
      Syn: To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex;
               exasperate; anger; incense; enrage.
  
      Usage: To {Irritate}, {Provoke}, {Exasperate}. These words
                  express different stages of excited or angry feeling.
                  Irritate denotes an excitement of quick and slightly
                  angry feeling which is only momentary; as, irritated
                  by a hasty remark. To provoke implies the awakening of
                  some open expression of decided anger; as, a provoking
                  insult. Exasperate denotes a provoking of anger at
                  something unendurable. Whatever comes across our
                  feelings irritates; whatever excites anger provokes;
                  whatever raises anger to a high point exasperates.
                  [bd]Susceptible and nervous people are most easily
                  irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and
                  fiery people are soonest exasperated.[b8] --Crabb.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Irritate \Ir"ri*tate\, a.
      Excited; heightened. [Obs.]
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