Pronunciation: [ˈɜːkt] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "irked" can be a bit confusing for English learners. The word is pronounced /ɜːkt/ (URKT) with a silent "e". This means that the "e" at the end of the word does not have a specific sound and is only used to indicate the past tense of the verb "irk". "Irked" means to be annoyed or bothered by something. Remember, when spelling "irked", drop the "e" and add "-ed" to the end of "irk".
The term "irked" is an adjective that describes a feeling of annoyance, irritation, or slight anger that arises from a certain situation, person, or thing. It characterizes a state of being bothered, bothered, or vexed by something that disrupts one's mood or tranquility.
When someone is "irked," they experience a sense of discontent and frustration due to an action, behavior, or circumstance perceived as bothersome or displeasing. It is an emotional response brought about by being inconvenienced, troubled, or exasperated. Common triggers of being "irked" may include encountering repetitive noises, dealing with rude individuals, or facing persistent obstacles.
The feeling of being "irked" is often seen as a low-level annoyance or mild annoyance, distinct from stronger emotions like anger or fury. It represents a sense of impatience or uneasiness that can vary in intensity depending on the situation and the individual's tolerance level. While being "irked" is not as intense as experiencing anger, it can still negatively impact one's mood and overall well-being.
In summary, "irked" refers to a state of annoyance or irritation, where one is bothered or vexed due to a particular situation, person, or thing. It signifies a mild form of discontentment that disturbs one's peace of mind temporarily, producing a feeling of frustration or uneasiness.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "irked" originates from the Middle English term "irk", which came from the Old Norse word "yrkja" meaning "to work" or "to labor". Over time, the meaning of "irk" shifted to convey the feeling of annoyance, frustration, or weariness as if one had been working too hard. Today, "irked" is commonly used to describe a state of irritation or being bothered by something.
