ir|ri|tate

ir|ri|tate «IHR uh tayt», transitive verb, -tat|ed, -tat|ing.

1. to make impatient or angry; annoy; provoke; vex: »

The boy's foolish questions irritated his mother. Flies irritate horses.

2. to make (a part of the body) more sensitive than is natural or normal: »

Sunburn irritates the skin.

3. Biology. to stimulate (as an organ, muscle, or tissue) to respond: »

A muscle contracts when it is irritated by an electric shock.

╂[< Latin irrītāre (with English -ate¹) excite, provoke]

–ir´ri|tat´ing|ly, adverb.

–ir´ri|ta´tor, noun.

Synonym Study 1 Irritate, exasperate, provoke mean to excite to impatience or anger. Irritate suggests annoying a person until he loses patience or flares up in anger: »

Her untidiness irritates me.

Exasperate suggests annoying someone beyond endurance or self-control: »

His constant cheating exasperates me.

Provoke suggests annoying someone into strong anger or disgust: »

Their constant interruptions provoke me.