irritate
ir.ri.tate \'ir-*-.ta-t\ vb [L irritatus, pp. of irritare] 1: to excite
impatience, anger, or displeasure in : ANNOY 2: to induce irritability in
or of : to cause or induce displeasure or irritationMRILE, PEEVE: IRRITATE
implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from
impatience to rage; EXASPERATE suggests galling annoyance or vexation and
the arousing of extreme impatience; NETTLE suggests a light stinging or
piquing; PROVOKE implies an arousing of strong annoyance or vexation that
may excite to action; ROIL or RILE implies inducing an angry or resentful
agitation; PEEVE suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous
irritation SYN syn EXASPERATE, NETTLE, PROVOKE, ROIL or (