irritant
/ˈɪrɪtənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪrɪtənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈir-ə-tənt/ (ame, mw)
irritant — noun
- irritantsingular
- irritantsplural
1. a person, thing, or situation that keeps bothering you or creating small problem
a person, thing, or situation that keeps bothering you or creating small problems
The buzzing light above Trang's desk became a daily irritant.
daily irritant after repeated annoyance
Late billing errors are a constant irritant for small shop owners.
constant irritant for someone
For neighbors, the barking dog remained an irritant every weekend.
The pop-up ads on Rafael's phone were a real irritant.
文法句型
be an irritant
a constant irritant for someone
用法筆記
Often used for repeated minor trouble rather than one big crisis. It can refer to a person, an object, or an ongoing situation.
常見錯誤
2. a material that can make skin, eyes, or another body part hurt or feel sore
a material that can make skin, eyes, or another body part hurt or feel sore
The nurse warned that the cleaner was a strong irritant to skin.
irritant to skin
Pollen can act as an irritant for people with sensitive eyes.
act as an irritant
After the spill, workers labeled the powder as an irritant.
Some cheap soaps contain an irritant that dries out the hands.
- chemical irritant
more specific when the substance is a chemical product
- allergen
more specific because it causes an allergic reaction, not just soreness
文法句型
an irritant to the skin
label something an irritant
用法筆記
Common in health, safety, and product-label language. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about annoyance rather than physical soreness.
常見錯誤
irritant — adjective
- irritantpositive
- more irritantcomparative
- most irritantsuperlative
1. describing smoke, chemicals, or similar things that make the body feel sore or u
describing smoke, chemicals, or similar things that make the body feel sore or uncomfortable
The lab stored the irritant gas in a locked metal cabinet.
irritant + noun in technical use
Workers wore masks while removing the irritant cleaning spray.
The irritant dust made Nora rub her eyes all afternoon.
Doctors told parents to keep the irritant cream away from cuts.
- irritating
far more common in everyday English and can describe both people and things
- harsh
often used when a product feels rough on skin or eyes
- soothing
used for something that calms pain or discomfort
文法句型
irritant + noun
be irritant to + body part
用法筆記
Usually appears before a noun in medical, chemical, or product-warning language. In everyday conversation, irritating is much more common for general annoyance.