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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Recent Examples of irritability
Depression symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, guilt or irritability, as well as loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities.
—
Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
While largely benign, motion sickness can be highly unpleasant — often causing nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, as well as sweating, headache, and irritability in some cases.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Flu can impact children differently and present more general symptoms like irritability and general fussiness, or ear and stomach pain.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
To counter the irritability, try expressing silent gratitude.
—Jennifer Moss, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritability
Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
While largely benign, motion sickness can be highly unpleasant — often causing nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, as well as sweating, headache, and irritability in some cases.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Flu can impact children differently and present more general symptoms like irritability and general fussiness, or ear and stomach pain.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
To counter the irritability, try expressing silent gratitude.
—Jennifer Moss, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritability
Noun
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In the public mind, weakness invited aggression.—
Dustin Olson,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
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Moreover, America is already committed to defending Greenland against aggression via Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.—
Peter Juul Tribune News Service,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And the first half was a virtuoso blend of aggressiveness and controlling tempo from Payton, as Nix had a couple of deep shots to Marvin Mims and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, but also controlled the game with his legs.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
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The 2026 version of the San Diego Mojo is built on a blend of toughness and aggressiveness that shines through with a relentless defense that extends rallies and attempts to frustrate the offense on the other side of the net.—
Tim Meehan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Last year, after Mayor Todd Gloria and the council completed a long-term con job that imposed trash fees on 220,000-plus homes at rates that were far higher than promised in 2022, anger was common.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
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Swallowing your anger has only allowed this problem to fester.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The most common symptoms of teething include drooling, putting fingers or fists in their mouth, swollen or puffy gums, difficulty sleeping, crankiness and fussiness, per the institution.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
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At one point, her crankiness about being underappreciated for her domestic efforts is blamed, without irony, on her period.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Because of the sensitivity of materials like wood and metal to temperature changes, the cold, dry air can lead to cracks and warping on your instrument.—
Elissa Robinson,
Detroit Free Press,
23 Jan. 2026
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People often mislabel this as burnout, stress or personal sensitivity.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Florida has had enough of pettiness, politic stunts and petulance.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
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But six months on against Liverpool, Paqueta’s petulance is a slap in the face to everyone associated with West Ham.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Stuart said the measure reflects a sobering escalation in political hostility and violence.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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In his second term, their defining emotions are hostility and happiness.—
Christine Zhang,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritability. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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