irritability

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌɪɹɪtəˈbɪlɪti/ UK /ˌɪrɪtəˈbɪləti/ See IPA manual

Freq #48604

Meanings

1

noun
a tendency to become annoyed, impatient, or angry easily

Lack of sleep increased his irritability during the long meeting.
2

noun
medicine and biology: the capacity or excessive tendency of a tissue, organ, or organism to respond to stimulation

The medication reduced the irritability of the inflamed nerve.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a tendency to become... touchiness petulancecrossnessfretfulness

2 noun · medicine and biology: the... excitabilitysensitivity responsiveness

Opposites

calmness patience equanimity insensitivity

Word family

Derived forms hyperirritabilitysuperirritability

Related forms irritable irritation excitable

Etymology

From Latin irritabilitas, based on irritabilis, 'easily excited or provoked,' from irritare, 'to provoke or stimulate.' The word entered both psychological language for a quick temper and scientific language for the responsiveness of living tissue to a stimulus.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# irritability

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪɹɪtəˈbɪlɪti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪrɪtəˈbɪləti/
**Frequency rank:** 48604

## Meanings
1. a tendency to become annoyed, impatient, or angry easily
2. medicine and biology: the capacity or excessive tendency of a tissue, organ, or organism to respond to stimulation

## Examples
- Lack of sleep increased his irritability during the long meeting.
- The medication reduced the irritability of the inflamed nerve.

## Synonyms
- touchiness
- petulance
- crossness
- fretfulness
- excitability
- sensitivity

## Antonyms
- calmness
- patience
- equanimity
- insensitivity

## Derived Forms
- hyperirritability
- superirritability

## Related Forms
- irritable
- irritation
- excitable

## Etymology
From Latin irritabilitas, based on irritabilis, 'easily excited or provoked,' from irritare, 'to provoke or stimulate.' The word entered both psychological language for a quick temper and scientific language for the responsiveness of living tissue to a stimulus.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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