verb
irritieren
irritate
Definition & meaning
The verb irritieren is used in German in two primary ways:
- To confuse or unsettle: It describes a state of being mentally disturbed, puzzled, or unsure due to external circumstances. Someone who is irritiert has lost their orientation or clarity about a situation.
- To annoy or provoke: It describes the act of bothering someone, causing slight anger, or irritating them through persistent behavior.
Grammar & Word origin
- Grammar: It is a weak verb. The conjugation follows the standard pattern: ich irritiere, du irritierst, er/sie/es irritiert, ich irritierte, ich habe irritiert.
- Word origin: It is derived from the Latin word irritare (to excite, stimulate, or provoke). In German, it entered common usage as a loanword but has shifted slightly in meaning to focus more on confusion rather than just physical or emotional stimulation.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- verwirren (to confuse/bewilder)
- verunsichern (to make insecure/unsettle)
- stören (to disturb/bother)
- aufbringen (to provoke/agitate)
- aus dem Konzept bringen (to throw off track)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Laute Geräusche irritieren den Hund.verb
Loud noises irritate the dog.
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