crossword irritate – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're stuck on the clue "crossword irritate," you've come to the right place. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of possible answers, organized by letter count, along with helpful explanations to guide you through your puzzle. Get ready to solve that tricky clue!
Solutions for "crossword irritate" by Letter Count
3 Letters
VEX: To irritate or annoy someone, often mildly.
IRK: To annoy or exasperate, a common three-letter crossword answer.
4 Letters
FRET: To be constantly or visibly worried or anxious, which can indirectly irritate someone else.
GALL: To make someone feel annoyed or resentful, often used as 'to gall someone'.
5 Letters
ANNOY: To cause slight irritation or bother to (someone).
PEEVE: To annoy or make someone angry, often used in the past participle 'peeved'.
GRATE: To irritate or annoy (someone) in a persistent way, like 'grating on one's nerves'.
6 Letters
RANKLE: To cause annoyance or resentment that persists, often for a long time.
7 Letters
NETTLES: To irritate or annoy (someone), often in a way that causes slight discomfort or anger.
More About "crossword irritate"
The clue "crossword irritate" is a classic example of a synonym clue frequently found in crossword puzzles. It requires solvers to think of words that mean to bother, annoy, vex, or pester. The challenge often lies in finding the exact synonym that fits the given number of letters and intersects with other solved clues in the grid.
Common answers for this clue revolve around actions or feelings of causing annoyance. While some answers like VEX or IRK are concise and direct, others like RANKLE imply a more persistent and deep-seated irritation. Paying attention to the nuance of the clue – whether it implies a slight bother or a lasting resentment – can sometimes help narrow down the possibilities, although context from intersecting words is usually the ultimate decider.
Mastering such synonym clues is crucial for crossword success. Familiarity with a broad vocabulary of synonyms for common words like "irritate" will significantly boost your solving speed and accuracy. Always keep an open mind to different shades of meaning the word can carry.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider the Nuance: While "irritate" generally means to annoy, some synonyms imply a lighter bother (like IRK) while others suggest deeper or more persistent annoyance (like RANKLE). Think about the intensity of the word if other clues aren't helping.
- Check Word Form and Tense: If the clue is a verb like "irritate," the answer should also be a verb in the same tense (e.g., "irritated" would lead to "ANNOYED"). Always match the part of speech.
- Utilize Intersecting Letters: The most powerful tool in crossword solving. Even if you're unsure, filling in crossing words will reveal letters that severely limit the possibilities for "irritate," often making the correct answer obvious.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a common short answer for "irritate" in crosswords?
VEX or IRK are frequently used short answers for clues meaning 'irritate' in crosswords, often depending on the required letter count and intersecting letters.
How do I distinguish between similar "irritate" synonyms like ANNOY and PEEVE in a crossword?
While both ANNOY and PEEVE are 5-letter synonyms for 'irritate', the surrounding letters from intersecting words in the crossword grid will usually be the key to determining which specific answer fits. Context or additional subtle clues might also help differentiate their nuances.
Can "irritate" clues ever lead to non-verb answers in crosswords?
Generally, if 'irritate' is given as a verb clue, the answer will also be a verb synonym (e.g., ANNOY, VEX). However, clues like 'Source of irritation' or 'Feeling of irritation' could indeed lead to noun answers. Always consider the part of speech implied by the clue and the structure of the phrase.