as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
she irked her friend by chewing her gum loudly during the movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
one of the prof's major irks is a cell phone that rings during a lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of irk
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 9 Feb. 2025
Both coaches successfully utilized challenges in the first half, irked by a tightly and often incorrectly officiated contest.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025
Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for irk
Verb
Ahead of that, a special event held in Episode 5 (out Feb. 14) will present an opportunity for more theremin playing, though Miss Huang will be irked to be snubbed again.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 9 Feb. 2025
Both coaches successfully utilized challenges in the first half, irked by a tightly and often incorrectly officiated contest.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
The violence gets worse from there, and somehow all that is supposed to fit into a show about a Washington socialite whose biggest irk in the premiere is her rivalry with the first lady.
—Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for irk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irk
Verb
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Waltz now has a bunch of top officials, and their teams, who are annoyed at him for drawing bad publicity.—
Marc Caputo,
Axios,
25 Mar. 2025
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However, standing in the middle of a road to capture the Eiffel Tower in the background is not only unsafe but can also annoy locals.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Aside from her talk about specific songs, Roan also opened up about the creative process, which can sometimes be a massive headache, despite her being known for her catalog of fun and peppy songs.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
17 Apr. 2025
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Making matters worse, China’s been a real headache for Starbucks, even before the tariffs, on increasing local competition and tepid growth in the world’s second-largest economy.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If not properly diluted, vinegar's acidity can irritate your throat or erode tooth enamel over time.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
7 Apr. 2025
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The second walk irritated the pitcher, as home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman’s ball four call on a 3-2 count appeared incorrect.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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At first, the un-washable Fisk murals are a nuisance to the new mayor, but there are ways to take advantage of the situation.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2025
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In a meeting that month which Dahl recorded, Turner referred to Williams as a nuisance who had already been dealt with.—
Ronan Farrow,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
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Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.—
Jay Cost,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Trees like Texas ebony and mesquite that have thorns to protect them from munching animals and long roots to tap moisture deep within the earth.—
Laura Mallonee,
Wired News,
12 Apr. 2025
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To shield your hands against thorns when pruning, wear leather or leatherlike gloves.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Aaron Boone said Bellinger’s back started bugging him during Thursday’s game against the Diamondbacks.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2025
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Ralph Macchio on the one thing that still bugs him about Karate Kid Part II My Cousin Vinny tells the story of three bombastic Italian-Americans caught up in an over-the-top legal drama.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The president has voiced frustration with the 1973 law and similar environmental protections, saying environmentalists are impeding growth.—
Kristin Brown,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2025
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There’s a sense of frustration that comes with that, like, How come no one’s listening to the voice of a generation?—
Cat Cardenas,
Vogue,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irk. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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