Irritant/ˈɪrɪtənt/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Response Often used to describe things that make people feel upset or stressed. The constant humming of the refrigerator was an irritant to her. Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Serious May describe minor annoyances, not just big problems. His habit of clicking a pen is a mild irritant at meetings. Pro Tip 3/3Neutral Context Not inherently negative, may depend on context or personal tolerance. For some, city bustle is vibrant; for others, it's an irritant.