irritable

adjective

ir·​ri·​ta·​ble ˈir-ə-tə-bəl 

: capable of being irritated: such as

a

: easily exasperated or excited

gets irritable when he tires

b

: responsive to stimuli

irritableness noun

irritably

ˈir-ə-tə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• choleric
• crabby
• cranky
• cross
• crotchety
• fiery
• grouchy
• grumpy
• irascible
• peevish
• perverse
• pettish
• petulant
• prickly
• quick-tempered
• raspy
• ratty
• short-tempered
• snappish
• snappy
• snarky
• snippety
• snippy
• stuffy
• testy
• waspish

Examples of irritable in a Sentence

My father is always irritable after a nap.

I came home from work feeling tired and irritable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even if a more irritable side of her personality has emerged, there’s no excuse for cruelty. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024

In worst-case scenarios, pain can cause a dog to be more irritable and aggressive, like if a human had a severe headache and couldn't tolerate social interaction, Enomoto said. —Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024

Someone may also become irritable if a routine is disrupted. —Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 19 July 2024

People with anxiety may also feel irritable, tense, or restless, and may have a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom. —Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing irritable

• irritable bowel syndrome

Kids Definition

irritable

adjective

ir·​ri·​ta·​ble ˈir-ət-ə-bəl 

: capable of being irritated

especially : easily irritated

gets irritable when he's tired

irritableness noun

irritably

-blē 

adverb

Medical Definition

irritable

adjective

ir·​ri·​ta·​ble ˈir-ət-ə-bəl 

: characterized by irritability: as

a

: easily exasperated or excited

b

: responsive to stimuli