ir´ri|ta|bly

ir|ri|ta|ble «IHR uh tuh buhl», adjective.

1. easily made angry; impatient: »

When the rain spoiled her plans, she was irritable for the rest of the day.

2. Medicine. (of an organ or part of the body) more sensitive than is natural or normal: »

A baby's skin is often quite irritable.

3. Biology. able to respond to stimuli.

╂[< Latin irrītābilis < irrītāre excite, provoke, irritate]

–ir´ri|ta|ble|ness, noun.

–ir´ri|ta|bly, adverb.

Synonym Study 1 Irritable, irascible mean easily made angry. Irritable means easily annoyed, either because of one's disposition or because of some temporary condition: »

Ill health made him irritable.

Irascible implies a quick temper and a tendency to become angry at trifles: »

an irascible old tyrant. Irascible people should not have positions which require them to meet the public.