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Definition of irritable

irritable

/ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/
ir · ri · ta · ble
Adverb:irritably
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irritable Lexical Profile

irritable Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed, impatient, or made angry.

Example

"A lack of sleep left him feeling unusually irritable during the morning meeting."

2

(In medicine and physiology) abnormally sensitive or excessively responsive to a physical stimulus, inflammation, or excitement.

Example

"Dietary adjustments often help patients manage the symptoms of an irritable digestive tract."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for irritable

• Nearby Words

irrigation
irrigator
irritability
irritable
irritableness
irritably
irritancy

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Latin irritabilis, from irritare ('to excite or provoke'), originally used in physiology to describe tissues responsive to stimuli before shifting to emotional temper.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Irritable. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/irritable
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