Irritate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Irritated; p. pr. & vb. n. Irritating.]
Etymology: [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.
3 more senses
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. -- 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. "Susceptible and nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated." Crabb.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Irritate, v. t.
To render null and void. [R.] Abp. Bramhall.
Irritate, a.
Excited; heightened. [Obs.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for irritate; he lists it under affront.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.