Irritability Meaning
/ˌɪɹɪtəˈbɪlɪti/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state or quality of being irritable; quick excitability.
nounA natural susceptibility, characteristic of all living organisms, tissues, and cells, to the influence of certain stimuli, response being manifested in a variety of ways.
Sentence Examples
Experts say coronavirus lockdowns anywhere in the world can trigger stress, irritability, fear and fatigue.
Lack of sleep can increase your irritability during the day.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
His constant ____ made him snap at everyone for the smallest mistakes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Symptoms of lack of sleep often include ____, poor concentration, and a general feeling of tiredness.
Word Origin & History
From Latin irritabilitās, equivalent to irritable + -ity.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Blue No. 1 and yellow No. 6 may also be toxic to some human cells. And as little as 1 milligram of yellow dye No. 5 may cause irritability, restlessness and sleep disturbances for sensitive children."
— 2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN:
"We find a renitency in ourselves to ascribe life and irritability to the cold and motionless fibres of plants."
— 1800, Erasmus Darwin, Phytologia, Or the Philosophy of Agriculture and Gardening:
"There is growth only in plants; but there is irritability, or, a better word, instinctivity, in insects."
— 1830 September 23, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Logic”, in H[enry] N[elson] C[oleridge], editor, Specimens of the Table Talk of the Late Samuel Taylor Coleridge. […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], published 1835, →OCLC, page 111:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
His constant ____ made him snap at everyone for the smallest mistakes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Symptoms of lack of sleep often include ____, poor concentration, and a general feeling of tiredness.