irritated by something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "irritated by something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express annoyance or displeasure caused by a specific issue or situation. Example: "She was irritated by the constant noise coming from the construction site next door."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In September 1995, Ferguson was irritated by something else instead: the hype over Cantona's comeback.

The Guardian - Sport

"And so we were on some conference call, and I was just completely irritated by something someone was saying.

The New Yorker

Doing so can help you avoid tricky conversations when they're least expected or when you may already be irritated by something else.

The New York Times

"It is not a disease, but rather an indication from the body that it is being irritated by something," said Dr. Reisacher, an otolaryngic allergist.

The New York Times - Science

About 5-foot-8 and a bit oval-shaped, he has a stubbly gray beard and often wears the look of a man who is irritated by something but can't quite remember what it is.

The New York Times - Magazine

I shadowed a friend of mine who owns a wedding dress boutique for a couple of days whilst researching the topic and trying to get to the bottom of why I was so irritated by something which appeared to have no bearing on my life.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Like the novels, they're worth being irritated by, for in spite of the showing off, Kundera is usually pointing to something interesting.

The Guardian - Books

But when the far-right former leader of the EDL Tommy Robinson is irritated by the diversity of authentic Muslim voices, as his Twitter feed suggests, there must be something going right.

The Guardian - Opinion

Irritated by Michael McIntyre?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Irritated by the changes?

The New York Times

They get irritated by corruption.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "irritated by something", ensure the 'something' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of "He was irritated by something", specify "He was irritated by the constant interruptions".

Common error

Avoid using "irritated by something" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations that cause genuine frustration or annoyance to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "irritated by something" functions as an adjectival phrase, specifically describing a state of being annoyed or bothered by a particular cause. Ludwig examples show how it modifies a subject to indicate their emotional state.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "irritated by something" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to express annoyance or displeasure, as validated by Ludwig. While it's suitable for various contexts, including news and general discussions, overuse in trivial situations should be avoided. Alternatives like "annoyed by something" or "frustrated by something" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Ludwig examples confirm its usage across diverse sources, particularly in news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

annoyed by something

Replaces "irritated" with "annoyed", indicating a milder form of displeasure.

bothered by something

Uses "bothered" instead of "irritated", suggesting a state of being slightly worried or disturbed.

aggravated by something

Substitutes "irritated" with "aggravated", implying a heightened sense of frustration.

frustrated by something

Replaces "irritated" with "frustrated", emphasizing a feeling of being blocked or prevented from achieving a goal.

vexed by something

Uses "vexed" instead of "irritated", suggesting a state of being puzzled or confused and therefore annoyed.

perturbed by something

Replaces "irritated" with "perturbed", indicating a state of anxiety or disquiet.

displeased with something

Expresses dissatisfaction rather than direct irritation.

exasperated by something

Implies a higher level of frustration and impatience than simply "irritated".

angered by something

Indicates a stronger emotional response, shifting from irritation to anger.

resentful of something

Suggests a feeling of bitterness and indignation caused by something perceived as unfair.

FAQs

What does "irritated by something" mean?

It means feeling annoyed or bothered by a particular thing or situation. It expresses a state of mild anger or frustration.

What can I say instead of "irritated by something"?

You can use alternatives like "annoyed by something", "bothered by something", or "frustrated by something" depending on the context.

How to use "irritated by something" in a sentence?

Example: "She was irritated by something he said during the meeting." The phrase indicates the cause of irritation.

Is there a difference between "irritated by something" and "frustrated by something"?

"Irritated by something" generally implies a milder annoyance, while "frustrated by something" suggests a stronger feeling of being blocked or hindered in achieving a goal.