irritable

irritable — adjective

1. getting angry, annoyed, or upset very easily over small things, often because yo

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

getting angry, annoyed, or upset very easily over small things, often because you are tired, stressed, or not feeling well.

Example

The doctor told Jiwoo that poor sleep was making her irritable during the day.

irritable + [situation/cause] + during the day

Tuan gets irritable about traffic jams even when he has plenty of time.

irritable + about [something]

Common collocations
  • feel irritable
  • become irritable
  • make someone irritable
  • irritable mood
  • irritable tone
  • irritable with someone
  • irritable about something
Synonyms
  • grumpy

    more informal, suggests a sulky or grouchy mood rather than upset

  • testy

    suggests sharp, impatient annoyance, especially in speech

  • cranky

    informal, often used for children or when tired

  • touchy

    focuses on being oversensitive to criticism or particular topics

Antonyms
  • calm

    relaxed and not easily upset

  • easygoing

    describes a person who rarely gets annoyed

Grammar Patterns

irritable + about/at/over [something]

irritable + with [someone]

Usage Note

Used for a temporary emotional state rather than a permanent personality trait. A person who is irritable today may be calm tomorrow. Frequently used with at (for the trigger), with (for the person affected), or about (for the topic).

Common Mistakes

My boss was irritable to the delay.
My boss was irritable about the delay.
use about for the cause, not to.
She is an irritable person this week because of stress.
She has been irritable this week because of stress.
irritable typically describes a state, not a fixed character label.

2. of a body part, tissue, or biological system — reacting more strongly than norma

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

of a body part, tissue, or biological system — reacting more strongly than normal to light, heat, pressure, or other physical stimulus, often because of illness, injury, or inflammation.

Example

After the burn healed, Kian's skin remained irritable to direct sunlight for several months.

irritable + to [physical stimulus]

The patient's irritable bowel syndrome causes pain whenever she eats spicy food.

collocation: irritable bowel (common medical term)

Common collocations
  • irritable bowel
  • irritable bladder
  • irritable skin
  • irritable tissues
  • irritable to light / heat / pressure
  • irritable colon
Synonyms
  • sensitive

    broader, less technical; can describe both emotional and physical reactions

  • reactive

    focuses on the response itself; common in allergy and dermatology contexts

Antonyms
  • insensitive

    not responding to stimuli

  • numb

    having no physical feeling or sensation

Grammar Patterns

irritable + to [stimulus]

irritable [body part / tissue]

Usage Note

In medical contexts, irritable describes a physiological overreaction, not a person's mood. Distinguish from sense 1: a patient can be irritable (easily annoyed, sense 1) because their irritable colon (sense 2) is causing discomfort.

Common Mistakes

After the sunburn, his skin was irritable about the heat.
After the sunburn, his skin was irritable to the heat.
with physical stimuli, use to, not about.
She has an irritable knee which makes her angry.
She has an irritable knee from the old injury.
in the medical sense, irritable describes the body part's sensitivity, not the person's emotion.

Word family

  • irritate
    verbB1
  • irritated
    adjectiveB1
  • irritating
    adjectiveB1
  • irritation
    nounB2
  • irritably
    adverbB2
  • irritability
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe a person who is easily annoyed, but each has a distinct flavour. Grumpy (informal) describes a sulky, discontented mood that often shows on the face — a grumpy child has a pout. Testy focuses on sharp, impatient words: a testy reply snaps at you. Cranky (informal, common in American English) is often used for tired children or adults who are irritable because they need rest. Touchy emphasises oversensitivity to specific topics — a touchy person will react angrily if you mention their weight or salary. Example: 'The grumpy old man gave us a testy answer when we asked for directions; after the long drive, even the children were cranky, and Dad was particularly touchy about the topic of traffic.'

grumpytestycrankytouchy

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • irritably
  • visibly irritable
  • increasingly irritable
  • unusually irritable
  • chronically irritable

Phrases

  • in an irritable state
  • prone to being irritable
  • a bout of irritable behaviour

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Irritable comes from the Latin word irritabilis, meaning 'easily excited or provoked', which in turn comes from irritare, meaning 'to excite, provoke, or stir up'. The word entered English in the mid-1600s. The medical sense (sense 2) developed later, around the 1800s, when doctors began using 'irritable' to describe body parts or organs that react too strongly to normal physical contact or stimulation.