irritable
She became irritable when she didn't get enough sleep.
She easily became annoyed or angry because of lack of sleep.
Easily annoyed or angered; prone to irritation
The baby was irritable all day because of teething.
The baby was easily upset and fussy due to discomfort from teething.
His irritable mood made it hard to work with him.
His tendency to get easily annoyed affected teamwork negatively.
Often used to describe a temporary state of being easily annoyed, though it can also describe a personality trait.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Use 'irritable' for people or animals, not objects or abstract concepts.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Using 'irritable' too frequently can make your writing sound negative or judgmental.
Word Origin
From Latin 'irritabilis', meaning 'able to be irritated', from 'irritare' (to irritate) + '-abilis' (able to).
Usage Notes
Can describe both temporary states (e.g., due to stress or fatigue) and long-term personality traits.