irritability
Americannoun
plural
irritabilities-
the quality or state of being irritable.
-
Physiology, Biology. the ability to be excited to a characteristic action or function by the application of some stimulus.
Protoplasm displays irritability by responding to heat.
Other Word Forms
- nonirritability noun
- superirritability noun
Etymology
Origin of irritability
From the Latin word irrītābilitās, dating back to 1745–55. See irritable, -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These included sadness, fatigue, anxiety, low mood, tension, irritability, anger and difficulty falling asleep.
From Science Daily
The researchers found a gene linked to this trait that, in humans, is associated with irritability, emotional sensitivity, and 'seeing the doctor for nerves or anxiety.'
From Science Daily
"When access is disrupted, some young people may initially experience irritability, restlessness, or a sense of social disconnection… not because the platform itself is essential, but because a familiar coping mechanism has been removed."
From BBC
People with autism may take medication to reduce anxiety, address attention problems, or reduce severe irritability.
From Salon
Your frustration and irritability is a sign that your boundaries are being pushed: your emotional, familial and financial boundaries.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.