adj
testy
TEHS-tee
adj
1
Easily irritated or short-tempered.
"He gets testy when he hasn't had his morning coffee."
"The manager grew testy after the third interruption."
How to Use Testy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishQuick to snap or get annoyed over small things.
Common pairings
testy exchange
a testy reply
grow testy
Word Forms
testier comparative, testiest superlative
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Etymology
From Middle English testif, "headstrong", from Old French testu, "stubborn" — literally "having a lot of head" (from teste, "head"). The same French root gives modern French tête.