IRRITABLE Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

irritable

adjective

ˈir-ə-tə-bəl

Definition of irritable

as in fiery

easily irritated or annoyed that irritable old man always yells at people to stay off of his lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 irritable But Maguire, now 43, became sad and irritable, and didn’t want to be around his newborn. — Keith Wagstaff, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 That’s because the Moon is at odds with Mars today and everyone is irritable. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 May 2026 Among the visitors on Wednesday was Mark Rutte, the Trump-whispering NATO secretary-general, tasked with trying to persuade an irritable president not to ditch the trans-Atlantic alliance. — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 10 Apr. 2026 Perhaps through feeling more irritable, more anxious, or wanting to isolate. — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritable

Adjective

New research, however, suggests our planet has a better chance of escaping that fiery end than previously thought.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 July 2026
That precocious talent combines with her naturally confident disposition to create one fiery competitor.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of fiery

Adjective

For the first time, that includes In Living Color vet Kim Wayans, going large as irascible hospital staffer Nurse Ratchett.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
No true irascible aging genius worth his salt is without a ready supply of white socks brightening up the chest of drawers.

— Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Definition of irascible

Adjective

Today, be patient with family members, especially parents and older relatives, because people are in a stern, strict and grumpy mood.

— Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
Where genius creator and grumpy granddad Rick might take collective hivemind Unity as a lover on a faraway planet, President Curtis is more likely to be found hunting the Loch Ness Monster or the Hodag on Earth, or travelling to the moon.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026

Definition of grumpy

Adjective

Their Ballon d’Or-winning winger Ousmane Dembele had the ball in his hands, a decoy to avoid unwanted attention on the actual taker Mbappe, and Dembele quite literally laughed in the face of the petulant Velazquez.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Charles seemed highly strung and petulant, getting himself in a lather about the loss of a cufflink just before the pre-wedding ball at Buckingham Palace.

— Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

Definition of petulant

Adjective

For the priests, this was a case of demonic possession due to witch-craft, and Mary’s crabby, aloof neighbor Elizabeth Jackson was the prime witch suspect.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The show followed the destitute Cuylers — father Early, his illegitimate son Rusty, his meth-loving sister Lily, and his crabby grandmother Granny — and their various moneymaking high jinks.

— Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026