Origin: 1655–65; <
Latin irrītābilis, equivalent to
irrītā(
re) to
irritate +
-bilis -ble Related forms ir·ri·ta·ble·ness, noun
ir·ri·ta·bly, adverb
non·ir·ri·ta·ble, adjective
non·ir·ri·ta·ble·ness, noun
non·ir·ri·ta·b·ly, adverb
un·ir·ri·ta·ble, adjective
un·ir·ri·ta·b·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. snappish, petulant, resentful. Irritable, testy, touchy, irascible are adjectives meaning easily upset, offended, or angered. Irritable means easily annoyed or bothered, and it implies cross and snappish behavior: an irritable clerk, rude and hostile; Impatient and irritable, he was constantly complaining. Testy describes the same kind of behavior or response, particularly to minor annoyances: always on edge, testy and sharp in response; testy and petulant, resenting any interruption. Touchy emphasizes oversensitivity and readiness to take offense, even when none is intended: especially touchy about any reference to obesity. Irascible means habitually angry or easily aroused to anger: an irascible tyrant, roaring at employees for the slightest error.