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irk

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb irk differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of irk are annoy, bother, and vex. While all these words mean "to upset a person's composure," irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.

careless waste irks the boss

In what contexts can annoy take the place of irk?

While the synonyms annoy and irk are close in meaning, annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.

their constant complaining annoys us

Where would bother be a reasonable alternative to irk?

The meanings of bother and irk largely overlap; however, bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.

don't bother me while I'm reading

When can vex be used instead of irk?

The synonyms vex and irk are sometimes interchangeable, but vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.

vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irk
Verb
Everyone’s still irked at Carolina — who had a date rose already — for taking up so much of Grant’s time at the prom. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025 The failure to immediately heed the directive irked DOJ leadership, including Bove and Bondi. Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 13 Feb. 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
  • Instead of getting annoyed, try again a few minutes later and remember, never vent your frustration to your cats.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Since then, Lorenzo had been aggressive in pushing the Pinos to seek better medical expertise to get to the bottom of Tatiana’s health problems — an effort that reportedly annoyed Sergio.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Skeptics point to volatility, security headaches, and the risk of distorting bitcoin markets if a major government holds too large a stake.
    Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • These side effects include hot flashes, nausea, calf cramps, skin itching or burning, headaches, abdominal discomforts, and fatigue.18 6.
    Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Ramirez-Rosa has been a magnet for it, in ways that could further irritate the city’s already-tender Black-Latino relations.
    Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Products with fragrances can also irritate the skin.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • So far the victims, regarded as a nuisance, have gotten nothing.
    Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Mexico accuses them of negligence, public nuisance and unjust enrichment.
    Belen Zapata, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Gathering at Scripps Research’s third annual Pandemic Preparedness Symposium last week, researchers working in virology and chemistry did not bother to debate whether or not H5N1 avian influenza will clear this rapidly shrinking hurdle.
    Paul Sisson, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The obvious motive The administration hardly bothered to pretend that Brown (whose distinguished military and academic career includes a masters’ degree in in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach).wasn’t fired for being Black.
    Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Every detail aligned with the central motif of the rose—even the bag handles were accented with thorns.
    Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Because of that, the switchbacks are mostly covered in chunks of wood and small branches, some with thorns.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The movie's famous final scene sees Hackman's character playing the saxophone after his paranoia has led him to destroy his entire apartment to see if it was bugged.
    Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Drew played in our first game and had a good game versus Santa Teresa, but he’s got a shoulder injury that’s been bugging him.
    Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • While a small sampling, these results offer the latest sign of mounting frustration with the billionaire entrepreneur as he’s become a rising figure in international and American politics.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Often, the urge to control how things unfold leads to frustration, impulsive decisions and unnecessary stress.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Irk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irk. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on irk

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