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 more politically testy task has been valuing office buildings, stores and warehouses. —A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026

At the hearing, Bondi and Massie had a testy exchange, a rarity for two Republicans. —Terry Collins, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026

Dreher emerged from the conservative blogosphere in the 2000s and won fans with his daily stream of testy opinions and unguarded anecdotal writing. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026

In China, consumerism appears to outweigh nationalism regardless of how testy relations have become in recent diplomatic spats with countries like Japan and the United States. —Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026