IRRITABILITY Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

irritability

noun

ˌir-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

Definition of irritability

as in irritableness

readiness to show annoyance or impatience the librarian's well-known irritability makes students hesitant to ask questions

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of irritability Chronic irritability is another factor, sometimes tied to disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Hunger can amplify low moods, irritability and worry, which is not what any nervous child needs before walking into a new classroom. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 This could, in turn, trigger feelings of restlessness and irritability, not to mention the lack of clarity brought on by the moon transiting this Water sign. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026 Capsaicin, the natural chemical compound in chili peppers, can cause severe irritability in a feline's gastrointestinal system. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritability

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritability

Noun

Instead, that generation’s gesture seems to be stymied or to miss its target and end in bitterness—which is precisely what gives these artists’ work at its best a poignancy on the other side of its aggression and humor.

— Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Volatile, headstrong, and brimming with wild-eyed passive-aggression, the actor’s performance heightens the wall situation from a neighborly dispute to the stuff of a biblical trial.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggression

Noun

Badosa’s front-foot aggressiveness and ability to rush Gauff’s forehand have brought her wins in their past two meetings.

— Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The salaries match, Strus is an expiring contract while Niko has four years left and the 3-point shooting and the aggressiveness of Max are way better than Niko’s.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggressiveness

Noun

As a result, water is often scarce, and small protests have erupted, despite the fear of being detained, as anger and frustration boil over.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Hundreds of protesters rallied outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok, demanding that foreign visitors — especially Israelis — stop flouting Thai laws and customs as anger over tourist misconduct spills into the streets.

— Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of anger

Noun

How to handle it A lot of Virgo’s crankiness can be soothed with helping them get organized and practice self-compassion.

— Maressa Brown, Parents, 18 June 2026
Bumping into someone wasn’t met with frustration, but with a grin and a comment about the Knicks, as if the entire city had agreed to give each other a pass from the stereotypical crankiness for one single night.

— Antonio Ferme, Variety, 14 June 2026

Definition of crankiness

Noun

Each remembers Smith fondly, many with both sympathy for and frustration with his innate sensitivity.

— Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Finally, China will remain a selective market for Canada, both in terms of sourcing and exports, given sensitivities around national security and overcapacity.

— Barrett Bingley, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of sensitivity

Noun

Vince Gilligan moved to Apple and returned to his X-Files roots for the sci-fi horror dramatic comedy Pluribus, which used its ultra-mysterious and yet ultra-familiar genre trappings for a droll meditation on the eternal clash between collective joy and individual grouchiness.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
Emily is also struggling with Annabelle, who has inherited her mom’s attitude and the grouchiness of any adolescent forced to grow up with an Evolution Media camera crew in her home.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025

Definition of grouchiness

Noun

Even Wilfried Zaha, with all his on-pitch petulance, never allowed standards to slip.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Cusick and Kretschmann offer complementary chords of variable petulance and insecurity, as newcomer Cuoso ably negotiates her character’s shifting ambiguities.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2026

Definition of petulance

Noun

Those moves come amid higher oil prices, with Brent crude futures hovering around $99 a barrel Tuesday amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

— Sarah Min,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Goldman's base case Goldman's forecast is based on an increase in hostilities in the Middle East.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hostility

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irrigating

irritability

irritable

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“Irritability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritability. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of irritability

noun

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