irritable
Quick to snap
Irritable describes a tendency to become annoyed or angered easily.
Someone irritable is quick to snap or lose patience: She gets irritable when she's hungry.
The word often implies a temporary state rather than a permanent trait—fatigue, stress, or illness can make anyone irritable.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive condition marked by the gut's oversensitivity to stimuli.
Ill-tempered and peevish
- grouchyEasily annoyed, ill-tempered
- grumpyIrritable in temperament
- surlyBad-tempered and unfriendly
- cantankerousBad-tempered and argumentative
peevish · sulky · petulant · churlish · cross · snappish · sullen · morose
Intensely irritated, patience gone
- vexedAnnoyed or much-debated
- agitatedEmotionally disturbed, restless
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
- annoyedMildly vexed
impatient · restless · peeved · displeased · perturbed · nettled · bothered · fed up
Short-tempered, easily provoked
- tetchyEasily provoked to irritation
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- snappyQuick and clever
short-tempered · irascible · choleric · splenetic · edgy · waspish · peppery · quick-tempered
Excessively reactive to stimuli
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- oversensitiveExcessively prone to offense
- easily offendedProne to taking umbrage
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
reactive · touchy · vulnerable · delicate · fragile · susceptible · provokable · impressionable
Prone to sullenness
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
erratic · changeable · fickle · explosive · emotional · unstable · fluctuating · stormy
cranky
Ill-tempered and peevish
cantankerous · peevish · sulky · petulant · churlish · cross · snappish · sullen · morose · dour
exasperated
Intensely irritated, patience gone
- vexedAnnoyed or much-debated
- agitatedEmotionally disturbed, restless
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
annoyed · impatient · restless · peeved · displeased · perturbed · nettled · bothered · fed up · frazzled
testy
Short-tempered, easily provoked
snappy · short-tempered · irascible · choleric · splenetic · edgy · waspish · peppery · quick-tempered · hot-tempered
hypersensitive
Excessively reactive to stimuli
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- oversensitiveExcessively prone to offense
- easily offendedProne to taking umbrage
defensive · reactive · touchy · vulnerable · delicate · fragile · susceptible · provokable · impressionable · raw
moody
Prone to sullenness
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
unpredictable · erratic · changeable · fickle · explosive · emotional · unstable · fluctuating · stormy · tempestuous
- hot-temperedhotheaded, quick-tempered, hair-trigger, fiery, volatile
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- temperamentscholeric, phlegmatic, melancholic, sanguine, introvert
- easily offendedtouchy, sensitive, prickly, defensive, testy
- stress signspanic, anxiety, worry, tension, burnout
irritableeasygoing
Relaxed in temperament
calm · even-tempered · patient · placid · unflappable
irritablepatient
Able to wait calmly
tolerant · forbearing · long-suffering · uncomplaining · understanding
- irritable bowel syndromeFunctional gastrointestinal disorder
- irritable bowelTemperamental intestinal condition