adjective
irritable
IH-rih-tuhbl
adjective
1
Easily annoyed or made angry; short-tempered.
"He gets irritable when he hasn't eaten."
"The toddler was irritable after missing her nap."
2
(biology, medicine) Reacting strongly or abnormally to stimulation.
"Irritable bowel syndrome can cause discomfort after eating certain foods."
How to Use Irritable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishQuick to get annoyed, or (in medical contexts) overly sensitive to stimulation.
Common pairings
irritable mood
irritable bowel syndrome
feeling irritable
Word Forms
more irritable comparative, most irritable superlative
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Etymology
Borrowed from French irritable, from Latin irritabilis.