Irritation: quick facts
Irritation is a mild form of anger triggered by small, repeated, or petty annoyances rather than serious offences. It is the low-grade feeling of being bothered — by a persistent noise, an interruption, or a minor…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Negative
Emotion family / blend
Anger
Typical triggers
Minor annoyances, repeated noises, small disruptions, petty hassles
How it's expressed
Slight frown, tightened lips, short tone, restless or sharp gestures
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview; American Psychological Association — Anger. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.