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Poisonous vs Irritant - What's the difference?

poisonous | irritant |

As adjectives the difference between poisonous and irritant

is that poisonous is containing sufficient poison to be dangerous while irritant is causing irritation or inflammation.

As a noun irritant is

any medication designed to cause irritation.

poisonous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Containing sufficient poison to be dangerous
  • (of an animal) Inedible due to containing poison; poisonous to eat

    • Synonyms

    * toxic, venomous, attery

    Derived terms

    * poisonousness

    irritant

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Causing irritation or inflammation.
  • (legal, Scotland) Rendering null and void; conditionally invalidating.
  • * Hayward
    • The states elected Harry, Duke of Anjou, for their king, with this clause irritant ; that, if he did violate any part of his oath, the people should owe him no allegiance.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any medication designed to cause irritation
  • A source of irritation.