1. The psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
   "His constant interruptions caused her great irritation";
   - annoyance, vexation, botheration [informal]
    
2. An uncomfortable feeling of mental painfulness or distress
   "Her irritation at the constant noise was growing";
   - discomfort, soreness
    
3. The act of troubling or annoying someone
   "His constant irritation of his siblings led to family arguments";
   - annoyance, annoying, vexation
    
4. Unfriendly behaviour that causes anger or resentment
   "The noise from the construction site was a daily irritation for the neighbours";
   - aggravation, provocation
    
5. A sudden outburst of anger
   "his irritation sparked like damp firewood";
   - pique, temper
    
6. (pathology) abnormal sensitivity to stimulation
   "any food produced irritation of the stomach"
    
7. The neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland
   "Constant irritation of the tissue led to inflammation";
   - excitation, innervation
    
8. Something or someone that causes annoyance, inconvenience, or makes life more difficult
   "The constant construction noise became a major irritation";
   - annoyance, bother, botheration [informal], pain, infliction, pain in the neck [informal], nuisance

Derived forms: irritations

Type of: abnormalcy [US], abnormality, aggression, aggressiveness, annoyance, arousal, chafe [archaic], hurt, mental condition, mental state, mistreatment, negative stimulus, psychological condition, psychological state, sensitisation [Brit], sensitization, suffering, vexation

Encyclopedia: Irritation