Meaning & use
irritable
Last updated
UK/ˈɪrɪtəbl/
US/ˈɪrɪtəbl/
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Easily annoyed or made angry by small things.
Grammar: Can be used with 'more' or 'most': more irritable, most irritable.
Patterns
- irritable with someone
- become irritable
He gets irritable when he is hungry.
She was irritable after a long day.
The noise made him irritable.
Word forms
| comparative | more irritable |
|---|---|
| superlative | most irritable |
Common combinations
- irritable mood
- Lack of sleep can cause an irritable mood.
- irritable bowel syndrome
- Irritable bowel syndrome can cause stomach pain.
- get irritable
- He gets irritable when he is tired.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grumpy
- More informal and often describes a temporary mood; 'irritable' can be used in medical contexts.
- cranky
- Informal, especially American; similar but less formal than 'irritable'.
- touchy
- Means easily offended; 'irritable' focuses more on annoyance.
Opposites
Word family
- irritate verb
- To make someone annoyed or angry.
- irritation noun
- The feeling of being annoyed or angry.
- irritably adverb
- In an irritable manner.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'irritable' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 is correct because 'irritable with someone' is the usual pattern. The other prepositions do not fit this adjective.
Make it your own
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