irritability

noun

ˌir-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce irritability (audio)
Definition of irritabilitynext
as in irritableness
readiness to show annoyance or impatience the librarian's well-known irritability makes students hesitant to ask questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irritability That’s not to say Ramadan is free from challenges — many experience irritability. — Julie Cobalt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025 Chronic fatigue, irritability, or loss of motivation are all symptoms of burnout. — Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 Nutrients to provide the building blocks, and lower carbs to help stabilize your blood sugar and even out the roller coaster of spikes and drops that create so many cognition-impairing side effects, including lightheadedness, anxiety, fatigue, irritability and a decrease in focus. — Heather Sandison, Contributor, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025 For example, yellow No. 5, also known as tartrazine, has been linked to irritability, restlessness and depression in some children. — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for irritability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritability
  1. aggression
  2. anger
  3. sensitivity
  4. petulance
  5. hostility
  6. indignation
Noun
  • Russia was expelled from the G8, sanctioned by the West and ostracized on the global stage because of its aggression against Ukraine.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Gandhi’s strategy of collective and collaborative unity, rather than aggression, effectively dismantled British dominance.
    — Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of aggression
Noun
  • The Cost of Negative Emotions in Financial Decision-Making On the flip side, negative emotions, such as anxiety, anger, and sadness, were shown in our study to be associated with a shorter financial time horizon.
    — Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • This void has to be filled because there's so much anger, anger not just in red districts, but also in blue districts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of anger
Noun
  • This sensitivity to swings in rates is known as duration.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 20 Mar. 2025
  • As a vasodilator, marijuana increases blood flow, heightening sensitivity in erogenous zones.
    — Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of sensitivity
Noun
  • Democrats amp up infighting and 'unhinged petulance' as approval rating plummets Trump is openly defying court orders.
    — Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The doctor who eventually wakes him is greeted with immediate petulance.
    — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
Definition of petulance
Noun
  • Intentionally directing attacks against civilian infrastructure and civilians who are not directly taking part in hostilities is considered a war crime under international law.
    — Clarissa Ward, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Even small shifts can build rapport and defuse hostility.
    — Diana Lowe, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • With love and loss, inspiration and indignation, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) is a folk tale, a small-town barroom yarn, a gothic novel, and a ghost story.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Advertisement To put it mildly, the indignation is real but a remedy is missing. Lawmakers face a deadline at the end of the week to adopt a spending program or trigger a government shutdown.
    — Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of indignation

Browse Nearby Words

irrigating
irritability
irritable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Irritability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritability. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on irritability

Nglish: Translation of irritability for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about irritability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All