as in irritability
readiness to show annoyance or impatience
attributed his unusual testiness this morning to being hungry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 testiness
The Warriors trailed by 11 points after a first quarter notable mostly for some late Golden State testiness.
—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 Jan. 2026
Corbett said the testiness started in Florida and returned with the team to Charlotte.
—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 Jan. 2026
Corbett said the testiness started in Florida and returned with the team to Charlotte.
—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for testiness
Noun
-
Symptoms include extreme fatigue, impaired performance, headache, irritability, nausea, dizziness, cramping and dehydration.
-
Heat exhaustion symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, high body temperature and decreased urine output.
Noun
-
Ukraine has every right to attack Russia’s military infrastructure that sustains its aggression.
-
Issues could include insomnia, aggression, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to psychotropic medication and exacerbation of existing mental illness -- like anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Cite this Entry
“Testiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/testiness. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
