“irritated”

Feeling annoyed or frustrated, often by something trivial or persistent.

“She was vexed by the neighbor's dog barking at every passing car.”

Best for: Works well in both formal writing and casual speech; slightly elevated but widely understood.

Feeling a sharp, stinging irritation, often from wounded pride or a minor offense.

“He was piqued by the offhand remark his colleague made during the meeting.”

Best for: Ideal for situations involving slighted dignity; suits literary and professional prose.

Feeling a deep, festering irritation that lingers and gnaws over time.

“The unfair criticism rankled her for days, surfacing at the worst moments.”

Best for: Best when the irritation persists rather than flares briefly; strong narrative word.

Feeling worn-down irritation from repeated friction or constraint.

“He chafed under the endless bureaucratic rules that strangled every decision.”

Best for: Great for conveying slow-burning frustration against a system or restriction.

Full of ire; provoked to a state of hot, indignant anger bordering on wrath.

“The ireful merchant slammed his ledger shut and refused to hear another word.”

Best for: Archaic and theatrical; best suited for historical fiction or dramatic prose.

Having been aggravated or inflamed to a heightened state of irritation.

“Already tense, she was exacerbated by the train delay that made her an hour late.”

Best for: Precise and clinical in tone; works well in formal writing when escalation matters.