noun · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ˌɪɹ.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:IH2 R IH0 T EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of irritating or annoying.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
What irritation causes you to be so moody?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The state of being irritated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A thing or person that annoys.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pain in the neck
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A state of inflammation or of painful reaction to cell or tissue damage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: medicine, physiology, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A condition of morbid excitability or oversensitiveness of an organ or part of the body; a state in which the application of ordinary stimuli produces pain or excessive or vitiated action.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
the act of troubling or annoying someone
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: annoyance, annoying, vexation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mistreatment
Narrower terms: exasperation, red flag
7
noun
Meaning 7
unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: aggravation, provocation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: aggression
Narrower terms: aggro, last straw, twit, taunt, taunting
8
noun
Meaning 8
an uncomfortable feeling of mental painfulness or distress
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: discomfort, soreness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: suffering, hurt
9
noun
Meaning 9
a sudden outburst of anger
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his temper sparked like damp firewood
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pique, temper
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: annoyance, chafe, vexation
10
noun
Meaning 10
the neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: excitation, innervation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: arousal
11
noun
Meaning 11
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
