adjective
irritable
IH-rih-tuhbl
Irritable (adjective) means Easily annoyed or made angry; short-tempered. Example: “He gets irritable when he hasn't eaten.”
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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more irritable
- Superlative
- most irritable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gets _____ when he hasn't eaten.
Etymology
Borrowed from French irritable, from Latin irritabilis.
Synonyms
View more →
atrabilious
bad-tempered
bilious
brainish
cantankerous
carnaptious
choleric
crabbit
crabby
cranky
crotchety
dyspeptic
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for irritable
See all rhymes for irritable →Frequently asked questions
What does “irritable” mean?
The word “irritable” means easily annoyed or made angry; short-tempered. In plain terms, quick to get annoyed, or (in medical contexts) overly sensitive to stimulation.
How do you pronounce “irritable”?
“Irritable” is pronounced IH-rih-tuhbl (/ˈɪɹɪtəbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “irritable” in a sentence?
Here is “irritable” used in a sentence: “He gets irritable when he hasn't eaten.”
What is another word for “irritable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “irritable” include atrabilious, bad-tempered, bilious, brainish, cantankerous and carnaptious.
What is the opposite of “irritable”?
The opposite of “irritable” — its antonyms — are calm, imperturbable and serene.
What part of speech is “irritable”?
“Irritable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “irritable” come from?
The word “irritable” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French irritable, from Latin irritabilis.
How many meanings does “irritable” have?
“Irritable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: easily annoyed or made angry; short-tempered.
