# irritable

/ˈɪɹətəbəɫ/ (US) · /ˈɪɹɪtəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/irritable
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

becoming annoyed or angry very easily. You might feel this way when you are tired or stressed.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Commonly follows linking verbs like 'become', 'feel', or 'seem'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.