What does irritable mean?
Irritable means easily annoyed, irritated, or angered, especially over relatively minor matters. It can describe a person's general temperament, as in someone with an irritable disposition, or a temporary state, as when fatigue makes a normally calm person irritable. The word is used in both formal and informal contexts and is generally negative, though it need not suggest extreme anger. In medical terminology, it can describe organs or bodily systems that are unusually sensitive or prone to dysfunction, as in irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable is related etymologically to irritate, irritation, and irritant, all of which share the sense of provoking an uncomfortable or agitated response.
adjectiveEasily annoyed or angered; prone to becoming upset or impatient. The term may also describe a state of heightened sensitivity or agitation.
- Easily annoyed or angered; prone to impatience and emotional agitation.
"After a long delay, she became irritable and snapped at her colleagues."
"The child grew irritable after the long journey."
"An irritable bowel condition can cause discomfort and irregular digestion."
Irritable is more than simply being annoyed: it describes a person who is unusually quick to lose patience.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does irritable come from?
The English adjective comes from Latin irritabilis, meaning “easily angered” or “irritable.” It is derived from irritare, “to provoke, irritate,” a word that developed through the history of Latin. The same Latin root lies behind English words such as irritate, irritation, and irritant.
Related word forms
How irritable is actually used
In everyday use, irritable is generally neutral to mildly negative and often describes a person's temperament or a temporary state. The medical expression irritable bowel syndrome is a standard term.
Easily confused with irritable
Irritable describes a general tendency to become annoyed or angry, whereas irritated refers to feeling annoyed or upset at a particular moment.