Finesentence logo

Irritability: meaning, definitions and examples

😠
Add to dictionary

irritability

 

[ ɪˌrɪtəˈbɪlɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

psychology

Irritability is a state of excessive sensitivity to stimuli, characterized by a tendency to react with anger or annoyance. It is often a symptom of various psychological disorders such as anxiety or depression.

Synonyms

agitation, crankiness, grumpiness

Examples of usage

  • The patient's irritability was a clear sign of the underlying mental health issues.
  • Her irritability towards small noises indicated a high level of stress.
  • The irritability of the child increased as the day went on.
Context #2 | Noun

biology

In biology, irritability refers to the ability of an organism or a cell to respond to stimuli. This response can be exhibited through movement, growth, or other physiological changes.

Synonyms

reactivity, responsiveness, sensitivity

Examples of usage

  • The plant's irritability towards sunlight resulted in its leaves turning towards the light.
  • Muscle irritability is crucial for the body's response to physical activity.

Translations

Translations of the word "irritability" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irritabilidade

🇮🇳 चिड़चिड़ापन

🇩🇪 Reizbarkeit

🇮🇩 iritabilitas

🇺🇦 дратівливість

🇵🇱 drażliwość

🇯🇵 過敏性

🇫🇷 irritabilité

🇪🇸 irritabilidad

🇹🇷 sinirlilik

🇰🇷 과민성

🇸🇦 التهيج

🇨🇿 podrážděnost

🇸🇰 podráždenosť

🇨🇳 易怒

🇸🇮 razdražljivost

🇮🇸 pirringur

🇰🇿 ашуланғыштық

🇬🇪 გაღიზიანება

🇦🇿 qıcıqlanma

🇲🇽 irritabilidad

Word origin

The word 'irritability' originated from the Latin word 'irritabilitas', meaning 'easily provoked'. It has been used in the English language since the 17th century to describe both psychological and biological sensitivity to stimuli.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,477, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.