tetchiness
Easily provoked state
Tetchiness is the quality of being easily irritated or quick to take offense.
It suggests a prickly disposition where minor annoyances provoke disproportionate reactions: His tetchiness after a bad night's sleep made everyone walk on eggshells.
The word implies a temporary or situational irritability rather than a permanently disagreeable character.
Ill-tempered disposition
- testinessEasily provoked irritation
- irascibilityTendency to anger easily
- grouchinessIll-tempered state
- snappishnessIrritable, curt manner
petulance · surliness · crossness · fractiousness · crotchetiness · cantankerousness · edginess · fretfulness
Mild anger or inflammation
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- displeasureMild anger or disapproval
vexation · resentment · discontent · chagrin · disgruntlement · indignation · pique · peevishness
Exaggerated response to stimuli
- defensivenessResistance to perceived attack
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
susceptibility · prickliness · emotionality · fragility · delicacy · taking offense · quick to anger
crankiness
Ill-tempered disposition
- testinessEasily provoked irritation
- irascibilityTendency to anger easily
- grouchinessIll-tempered state
snappishness · petulance · surliness · crossness · fractiousness · crotchetiness · cantankerousness · edginess · fretfulness · querulousness
irritation
Mild anger or inflammation
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
displeasure · vexation · resentment · discontent · chagrin · disgruntlement · indignation · pique · peevishness · huffiness
hypersensitivity
Exaggerated response to stimuli
- defensivenessResistance to perceived attack
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
vulnerability · susceptibility · prickliness · emotionality · fragility · delicacy · taking offense · quick to anger
tetchinesscalmness
Peaceful mental state
equanimity · patience · composure · serenity · placidity
tetchinesspatience
Calm during delays
forbearance · tolerance · self-control · good humor · affability