irritability

/ˌɪrɪtəˈbɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɪrɪtəbˈɪləti] /ˌɪrɪtəˈbɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌɪrɪtəbˈɪləti] /ˌir-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce irritability (audio)/ (ame, mw)

irritability — noun

1. a tendency to get cross very quickly, often because of small problems, delay, or

1.名詞C1
釋義

a tendency to get cross very quickly, often because of small problems, delay, or discomfort.

例句

After two missed buses, Sayaka answered the ticket clerk with clear irritability.

with irritability after repeated delay

Irritability spread through the office when the internet kept cutting out.

irritability spread through + place

同義詞
  • irritation

    broader; often names the feeling in one moment rather than an ongoing tendency

  • touchiness

    more informal; often about reacting badly to remarks or criticism

  • bad temper

    stronger and more openly unpleasant in behaviour

反義詞
  • patience

    ability to stay calm instead of getting upset quickly

  • calmness

    steady emotional control without sudden annoyance

文法句型

show irritability

irritability in [someone's voice/behaviour]

irritability after [stress/lack of sleep]

用法筆記

Often used for a person's general mood or for a temporary state caused by pain, stress, hunger, or lack of sleep, not for one isolated angry moment.

常見錯誤

❌He became irritability after lunch.
✅He became irritable after lunch.
💡use the adjective after 'become'; 'irritability' is the noun.

2. a condition in which an organ, muscle, or other body part reacts too strongly to

2.名詞C2
釋義

a condition in which an organ, muscle, or other body part reacts too strongly to touch, pressure, light, or another trigger.

例句

The dentist said Eli's tooth irritability explained the pain from iced water.

body-part irritability linked to a trigger

Tests showed irritability in the bladder after the infection had cleared.

irritability in + organ

同義詞
反義詞
  • stability

    the tissue or organ stays steady instead of reacting too easily

文法句型

irritability in [organ/body part]

irritability of [tissue/nerve/muscle]

用法筆記

Mostly medical. The body part is usually named directly, and the word often describes a symptom or test finding rather than a complete diagnosis.

常見錯誤

❌The test found the bladder was very irritability.
✅The test found bladder irritability.' / 'The bladder was very irritable.
💡use the noun for the condition and the adjective for the organ.