as in irritability
readiness to show annoyance or impatience
attributed his unusual testiness this morning to being hungry
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Recent Examples of testiness
The Warriors trailed by 11 points after a first quarter notable mostly for some late Golden State testiness.
—
Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Jan. 2026
Corbett said the testiness started in Florida and returned with the team to Charlotte.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Jan. 2026
Corbett said the testiness started in Florida and returned with the team to Charlotte.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for testiness
Noun
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This is also one of the reasons why chronically high cortisol is associated with anxiety, irritability and trouble focusing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
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That histamine release is what drives symptoms like flushing, irritability and GI issues.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier forum for defense leaders, militaries and diplomats, said a stronger, more self-reliant network of allies is essential to deter aggression and preserve the balance of power.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
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Fudd started the second half with the Wings’ first bucket, her second 3-pointer of the game, and kept the aggression going, finishing the game with 9-of-15 shooting with three rebounds and two assists.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Testiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/testiness. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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