Tetchiness

tetch·y also tech·y  (tch)

adj. tetch·i·er, tetch·i·est

Peevish; testy: "As a critic gets older, he or she usually grows more tetchy and limited in responses" James Wolcott.

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[Probably from Middle English tache, teche, blemish (influenced by touchy), from Old French tache, teche, from Vulgar Latin *tacca, from Gothic taikns, sign; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]

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tetchi·ly adv.

tetchi·ness n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

tetchiness - feeling easily irritated testiness, touchiness choler, crossness, fretfulness, fussiness, irritability, peevishness, petulance - an irritable petulant feeling