irritability crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're stuck on the "irritability crossword clue," you've come to the right place. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of all possible answers, organized by letter count, along with helpful explanations to get you back on track and complete your puzzle.
Solutions for "irritability crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
BILE: A historical term for a bad temper or ill humor, rooted in ancient humoral theory.
6 Letters
CHOLER: An archaic term often linked to a bilious temperament, signifying anger or easily provoked annoyance.
SPLEEN: Refers to feelings of ill humor, malice, or sudden fits of bad temper, traditionally associated with the organ.
8 Letters
EDGINESS: A state of being tense, nervous, or easily provoked, often leading to a quick temper.
9 Letters
TESTINESS: The quality of being easily annoyed, impatient, or short-tempered over small things.
PETULANCE: The quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered, especially over trivial matters.
10 Letters
CRANKINESS: The state of being easily annoyed or upset, often associated with general grumpiness or ill disposition.
SNAPPINESS: The quality of being irritable, abrupt, or sharp in speech or manner, prone to snapping back.
11 Letters
PEEVISHNESS: The quality of being easily annoyed, especially by unimportant things; fretful and discontented.
FRETFULNESS: The state of being distressed, worried, or irritated; a tendency to fuss or be uneasy.
12 Letters
IRASCIBILITY: The quality of being easily provoked to anger; characterized by a quick and fiery temper.
More About "irritability crossword clue"
The term "irritability" in a crossword clue often serves as a gateway to a rich lexicon of synonyms and related concepts. Beyond the immediate modern understanding of being easily annoyed, crosswords frequently draw upon archaic or more nuanced meanings. For instance, terms like 'choler' or 'bile' harken back to the ancient theory of humors, where an imbalance was thought to manifest as a fiery temper. Similarly, 'spleen' can refer to a burst of ill temper, linking to historical beliefs about the organ's role in emotions.
When encountering this clue, consider not just direct synonyms but also words describing a disposition prone to anger, sulking, or a generally difficult demeanor. The setter might be looking for words that describe a state of being on edge, such as 'edginess,' or a childish display of bad temper, like 'petulance.' Always pay close attention to the letter count, as this is the most critical hint to narrow down the possibilities. Common suffixes like '-NESS' are also frequent in answers related to states of being, including 'irritability.'
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Word Length: The number of letters is your most crucial hint. For "irritability," notice if the answer is short (like BILE) or very long (like IRASCIBILITY) to guide your word choice.
- Consider Synonyms & Nuances: Think beyond common synonyms. Crosswords love to use less obvious, older, or more formal words. For "irritability," consider words like 'choler,' 'spleen,' 'petulance,' or 'testiness' which all express aspects of this emotion.
- Look for Suffixes and Prefixes: Many words describing states or qualities end in suffixes like '-NESS' (e.g., PEEVISHNESS, CRANKINESS). Recognizing these patterns can help you fill in missing letters or confirm an answer.
- Cross-Reference with Intersecting Clues: Don't try to solve the clue in isolation. Use letters from intersecting words to confirm your suspicions or eliminate possibilities, especially with similar-length answers for "irritability."
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do crossword setters clue 'irritability'?
Crossword setters often use a variety of synonyms for 'irritability,' ranging from common terms like 'peevishness,' 'testiness,' or 'crankiness' to more evocative phrases suggesting a quick temper or easily upset disposition. They might also delve into more obscure or archaic terms like 'choler' or 'bile' to increase the challenge, or descriptive adjectives such as 'snappiness' or 'edginess'.
What are common word lengths for 'irritability' answers?
Answers for 'irritability' can span a wide range of lengths in crosswords. Shorter answers might include 'BILE' (4 letters) or 'SPLEEN' (6 letters), while medium-length words like 'TESTINESS' (9 letters) or 'CRANKINESS' (10 letters) are frequent. Longer solutions can go up to 'PEEVISHNESS' (11 letters) or 'IRASCIBILITY' (12 letters). The precise letter count provided in the clue is always your best guide.
Are there historical or medical terms used for 'irritability' in crosswords?
Absolutely. Crosswords frequently tap into historical and even medical contexts for clues. For 'irritability,' terms like 'choler' and 'bile' are common, stemming from the ancient Greek theory of the four humors, where excess bile was thought to cause a bad temper. 'Spleen' can also be used, referring to a fit of ill humor or malice, from the historical belief that the spleen was the seat of melancholy and ill-temper.