What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
antagonize
Example
His constant teasing antagonizes his younger sister. [antagonizes: verb]
Example
The politician's speech only served to antagonize the crowd further. [antagonize: infinitive]
irritate
Example
The loud music from the neighbor's party irritated me. [irritated: past tense]
Example
Her constant interruptions during the meeting irritate her colleagues. [irritate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Irritate is more commonly used than antagonize in everyday language. Irritate is a versatile word that covers a wide range of situations, while antagonize is less common and has a more specific usage.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between antagonize and irritate?
Both antagonize and irritate can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, antagonize may carry a slightly more formal tone due to its less frequent usage.
