as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
forced to endure a memorably irascible boss on her first job after college
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Recent Examples of irascible
Instead of a caricature, the actor turned Gustav into someone irascible yet charming, softening and conflicted in their golden years.
—
Thomas Page, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Now in its fifth season, the Apple TV drama follows a gang of screw-up spies who are nobody’s idea of the Avengers, led by Gary Oldman’s irascible, flatulent Jackson Lamb.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
In Fawlty Towers, Scales played the irascible and long-suffering Sybil Fawlty, who was often angered by the bumbling incompetence of husband and hotel manager Basil, played by Cleese.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
If the lead-up to Benfica’s visit, and even the game itself, had the feel of a reunion at times, there were still flashes of the irascible Mourinho of old.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irascible
Thomas Page, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Now in its fifth season, the Apple TV drama follows a gang of screw-up spies who are nobody’s idea of the Avengers, led by Gary Oldman’s irascible, flatulent Jackson Lamb.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
In Fawlty Towers, Scales played the irascible and long-suffering Sybil Fawlty, who was often angered by the bumbling incompetence of husband and hotel manager Basil, played by Cleese.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
If the lead-up to Benfica’s visit, and even the game itself, had the feel of a reunion at times, there were still flashes of the irascible Mourinho of old.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irascible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irascible
Adjective
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Manic episodes are described as prolonged periods of mood instability, in which a person can experience extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternatively, feel depressed or unusually irritable.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
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Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The seemingly out of nowhere coach who filled reporters’ notebooks with quips and fiery tirades was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1971.—
Brad Townsend,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Chopra paired the fiery look with a bold winter white catsuit and a statement coat.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irascible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irascible. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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