Synonyms of testy

testy

adjective

ˈte-stē 

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed

that coworker would be easier to get along with if she weren't so testy all the time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritable
• fiery
• peevish
• snappish
• petulant
• irascible
• crotchety
• grouchy
• cross
• snippy
• crabby
• grumpy
• waspish
• snarky
• choleric
• pettish
• passionate
• cranky
• prickly
• out of humor
• sensitive
• out of sorts
• contentious
• stuffy
• raspy
• short-tempered
• short
• snippety
• perverse
• combative
• argumentative
• cantankerous
• querulous
• ornery
• ratty
• disagreeable
• snarly
• snappy
• quick-tempered
• dyspeptic
• belligerent
• fretful
• tetchy
• surly
• bilious
• curmudgeonly
• bellicose
• pugnacious
• fractious
• quarrelsome
• ill-tempered
• truculent
• touchy
• disputatious
• sulky
• huffy
• bearish
• sullen
• scrappy
• ill-natured
• pouty
• ill-humored
• off-color
• cross-grained
• thin-skinned
• hot-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cordial
• friendly
• genial
• outgoing
• affable
• sociable
• gregarious
• sweet
• amiable
• companionable
• agreeable
• good-natured
• extroverted
• easygoing
• carefree
• relaxed
• patient
• tolerant
• well-disposed
• good-tempered
• stoic
• understanding
• uncomplaining
• forbearing
• obliging
• long-suffering
• happy-go-lucky

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of testy

The testy negotiation, punctuated by Rick promising to machete Gareth to death, is interrupted by the distant sound of gunfire and a huge explosion—Carol has arrived. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026

Rowland Has Made Lifestyle Changes To Manage Eczema After getting testy in a good way, Rowland made some lifestyle changes. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Clad in a Canadian tuxedo and brimming with enthusiasm and a competitive spirit that often verged on the combative, Ed Gamble clearly came into Taskmaster wanting to win, and his sheer desire to do well produced some of the show’s most enduring moments of testy hilarity. — Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 12 June 2026

New York has been testy about the officiating all night, except the Knicks are entering halftime with a 23-6 advantage in free throws. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 June 2026