1. (

• annoy ,
• rag ,
• get_to ,
• bother ,
• get_at ,
• irritate ,
• rile ,
• nark ,
• nettle ,
• gravel ,
• vex ,
• chafe ,
• devil

) cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves" ;

2. (

• irritate

) excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame; "Aspirin irritates my stomach" ;

3. (

• irritate

) excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus; "irritate the glands of a leaf" ;