IRRITABLE Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

irritable

adjective

ˈir-ə-tə-bəl

Definition of irritable

as in fiery

easily irritated or annoyed that irritable old man always yells at people to stay off of his lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of irritable They can be withdrawn or irritable. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 14 June 2026 While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump. — Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026 That’s because the Moon is at odds with Mars today and everyone is irritable. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 May 2026 Among the visitors on Wednesday was Mark Rutte, the Trump-whispering NATO secretary-general, tasked with trying to persuade an irritable president not to ditch the trans-Atlantic alliance. — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irritable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritable

Adjective

Admired for their striking beauty, the fiery blossoms of the peacock flower have long captured the attention of people across the Atlantic world.

— Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2026
The testimony followed years of fiery disputes between Paul and Fauci — both medical doctors — over the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus that caused it.

— Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 July 2026

Definition of fiery

Adjective

Julian Dennison stars as the troubled Ricky Baker, a kid who ends up on the run with an irascible old man, played by Sam Neill.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Neill starred in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders as Chester Campbell, an irascible and ruthless inspector charged with rooting out organized crime in Birmingham.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 July 2026

Definition of irascible

Adjective

Depp popped out as Ebenezer Scrooge to give the crowd a monologue that was difficult to understand — but most people would expect that Scrooge said something grumpy and anti-Christmas.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 23 July 2026
With his bushy beard and a grumpy demeanor that belies a tender-hearted soul, Neill was destined to play a role like Hector.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026

Definition of grumpy

Adjective

For the priests, this was a case of demonic possession due to witch-craft, and Mary’s crabby, aloof neighbor Elizabeth Jackson was the prime witch suspect.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The show followed the destitute Cuylers — father Early, his illegitimate son Rusty, his meth-loving sister Lily, and his crabby grandmother Granny — and their various moneymaking high jinks.

— Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026