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
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Recent Examples of testy
The testy scenes underscore an increasingly bitter rapport between America's two major political parties, as the first government shutdown in seven years approaches the start of a third week.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
There, she is repeatedly scolded, first by a testy parking attendant (Mark Stolzenberg), and then by a doctor (Bronstein), who warns Linda of consequences if her daughter doesn’t soon reach her target weight of fifty pounds.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
The testy exchange comes as Porter leads the race for governor in the Golden State.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
But despite his testy exterior, Quincy and Maggie (Kohan) might find common ground, and could learn from one another’s experiences.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for testy
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
There, she is repeatedly scolded, first by a testy parking attendant (Mark Stolzenberg), and then by a doctor (Bronstein), who warns Linda of consequences if her daughter doesn’t soon reach her target weight of fifty pounds.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
The testy exchange comes as Porter leads the race for governor in the Golden State.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
But despite his testy exterior, Quincy and Maggie (Kohan) might find common ground, and could learn from one another’s experiences.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for testy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for testy
Adjective
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Emery was irritable at full time.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Additionally, Owens’ youngest child, Titus, who was just a toddler when his mother died, was confused, irritable and inconsolable in the weeks after her death, Dias shared.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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During the high-speed chase, the two men were forced off the road, where their car exploded in a fiery crash, killing them both, the BBC reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Walston looked at the young upstart actor with a fiery expression.—
Cameron Crowe,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Testy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/testy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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