Hello! To annoy and irritate can both mean to make someone a little bit angry. For example, "It would annoy me if my brother were to ignore me" and "It would irritate me if my brother were to ignore me" But both of these words have other meanings as well. "Annoy" can also mean to harm or attack repeatedly. For example, "the brave Saxon would annoy their coastline" and "Irritate" can also mean to cause discomfort or inflammation. For example, "Some chemicals can irritate dry and sensitive skin". I hope that helps!

Jon: Well explained, also to be irritable is a medical term in English, " His feet were rendered irritable due to the unremitting discomfort he experienced from the not-broken-in shoes ".

Annoy and irritate often mean the same thing. Annoy and irritate often mean something physical or psychological that causes distress or anger. Psychological: "Your comment annoys/irritates me." "Your loud voice is irritating/annoying." Physical: "This bad cough annoys/irritates." "This mosquito bite is very annoying/irritating." "Do not irritate/annoy the dog by poking it with a stick." Irritate can also mean to disturb or cause further physical injury to something that is not alive. Annoy does not have this meaning. For example: "Do not irritate the cut on your hand." English speakers would NOT say "Do not annoy the cut on your hand." Another example: Your new shoes are irritating your heel and causing a blister." An English speaker would NOT say, "Your new shoes are annoying your skin."