Word
irritable
Phoneticsir·ri·ta·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪɹətəbəɫ/
UK/ˈɪɹɪtəbəl/
Definition
adj. becoming annoyed or angry very easily. You might feel this way when you are tired or stressed.
adj. having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed or made angry. Often used to describe a temporary mood or a permanent personality trait.
Examples
“He becomes very irritable when he does not get enough sleep.”
“The long flight and lack of food made the passengers irritable and impatient with the staff.”
“Chronic pain can make a patient increasingly irritable, leading to strained relationships with caregivers who may not understand the underlying physical cause of the mood shifts.”
Examples
simple
“He becomes very irritable when he does not get enough sleep.”
contextual
“The long flight and lack of food made the passengers irritable and impatient with the staff.”
complex
“Chronic pain can make a patient increasingly irritable, leading to strained relationships with caregivers who may not understand the underlying physical cause of the mood shifts.”
Usage
Commonly follows linking verbs like 'become', 'feel', or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“They often experience racing thoughts, a reduced need for sleep, and being very irritable.” “The debate itself was tetchier, more irritable than when Kim Leadbeater introduced a similar bill in 2024.” Etymology
Borrowed from French irritable, from Latin irritabilis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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