irritability

noun

ir·ri·ta·bil·i·ty | \ ˌir-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

plural irritabilities

Definition of irritability

1 : the property of protoplasm and of living organisms that permits them to react to stimuli

2 : the quality or state of being irritable: such as

a : quick excitability to annoyance, impatience, or anger : petulance

b : abnormal or excessive excitability of an organ or part of the body

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about irritability

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of irritability in a Sentence

the librarian's well-known irritability makes students hesitant to ask questions

Recent Examples on the Web

After that, your rising estrogen and progesterone levels drop, which is when most women experience those awful premenstrual symptoms like cramping, irritability, and anxiety. — Maggie O'neill, Health.com, "How Long is a Menstrual Cycle, Anyway?," 29 Aug. 2019 Common symptoms include unexpected crying spells, moodiness, sadness, irritability, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and/or changes in sleep and appetite. — Madelyn Fernstrom, NBC News, "Everything you need to know about Zulresso — the first FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression," 14 Aug. 2019 The boys have feelings of rage and irritability, experience nightmares and have sleep disturbances, the lawsuit said. — Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post, "Parents sue Centennial adoption agency claiming they weren’t informed of Chinese son’s sexual-abuse issues," 14 Aug. 2019 Coming off them too suddenly can cause what’s known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, a cluster of negative symptoms like insomnia, dizziness, irritability, and even suicidal thoughts. — SELF, "What If You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Without Your Anxiety?," 12 July 2019 And while Gonzalez has seen the positive impacts of CBD, there is a possibility of nausea, fatigue, or irritability. — Samantha Lopez, Houston Chronicle, "Veteran says CBD helped him come off medications, now he's assisting others in finding relief," 8 Aug. 2019 Symptoms of the virus, known also as Triple E, can be systemic or the result of swelling in the brain, including fever, headache, irritability and even coma, according to the Centers for Disease Control. — Cristóbal Reyes, orlandosentinel.com, "Mosquitos-borne illnesses threaten Orange residents, health officials warn," 24 July 2019 Typical signs of e-cigarette use include headaches, stomachaches, changes in behavior, lack of concentration, and irritability. — Victoria Albert, CBS News, "FDA launches TV ads featuring magician to fight teen vaping," 23 July 2019 An imbalance of electrolytes from a lack of fluids can cause irritability and confusion, so caregivers need to be attentive to changes in their loved ones’ behavior, Cuas said. — Tess Vrbin, courant.com, "This weekend’s heat wave could be especially risky for the elderly," 19 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irritability.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.