irk
To annoy someone slightly.
irk in a sentence
- Nothing irked Dad more than finding the milk left out of the fridge again.
- Squeaky trolley wheels always irk Mum when she is trying to shop quickly.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to irk?
- Asoothe
- Bplease
- Cdelight
- Dannoy
Show the answer
D: annoy. The other three mean the opposite of irk.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to irk?
- Abother
- Bannoy
- Cbug
- Dplease
Show the answer
D: please. The other three mean nearly the same as irk.
Words that mean something similar
annoy, bother, bug
Words that mean the opposite
please, soothe, delight
More words about emotions & feelings
- irresistible: So tempting that you cannot say no to it.
- irritable: Easily annoyed and quick to snap.
- jittery: Nervous and unable to keep still.
- jubilant: Feeling great joy because of a success.
- keen: Very eager and interested.
- kinship: A close connection or family bond between people.
- lament: To show deep sadness about something.
- lethargic: So tired that you have no energy at all.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test