Meaning & use
non-irritating
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Not causing soreness, itching, or redness on the skin or eyes.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in non-irritating lotion; it describes a product, not a person.
Patterns
- non-irritating formula
- non-irritating to the skin
- non-irritating for someone
This non-irritating lotion is safe for babies.
Choose a non-irritating cleanser if your skin is sensitive.
The eye drops are non-irritating and can be used daily.
adjectivebefore a nounfigurative
Not annoying or making someone feel impatient.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in a non-irritating manner; this sense is less common than the skin-care one.
Patterns
- non-irritating manner
- non-irritating habit
He has a calm, non-irritating way of explaining things.
Her non-irritating tone kept the meeting friendly.
Common combinations
- non-irritating formula
- The non-irritating formula suits sensitive skin.
- non-irritating to the skin
- The cream is non-irritating to the skin.
- mild and non-irritating
- The soap is mild and non-irritating.
- non-irritating eye drops
- She uses non-irritating eye drops every morning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gentle
- Suggests soft and kind action; non-irritating is more precise and often used for products.
- mild
- Means not strong or harsh; non-irritating focuses on not causing a reaction.
- hypoallergenic
- Means unlikely to cause allergies, which is not the same as not causing irritation.
Opposites
Word family
- irritate verb
- To make part of the body sore or itchy.
- irritation noun
- A feeling of soreness or annoyance.
- irritating adjective
- Causing soreness or annoyance.
Practice
My skin reacts badly to most soaps, so I need one that is ___.
Choose one answer.
Non-irritating means it will not cause a reaction. Irritating is the opposite, irritated describes a person's skin already reacting, and irritable describes a bad-tempered person.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “non-irritating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.