testy

adjective

tes·​ty ˈte-stē How to pronounce testy (audio)
testier; testiest
1
: easily annoyed : irritable
2
: marked by impatience or ill humor
testy remarks
testily adverb
testiness noun

Examples of testy in a Sentence

that coworker would be easier to get along with if she weren't so testy all the time
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And that renders South Africa’s relationship to America brittle, testy, and complicated. Jonny Steinberg, Time, 22 May 2025 The president has been seen by critics as siding too much with Putin and over Zelensky and Ukraine over the war, a sense augmented by a testy blowup in the White House in February during an on-camera press event featuring Trump, Vice President Vance and the Ukrainian leader. Ian Swanson, The Hill, 19 May 2025 In what had already been a physical, testy first seven minutes, as the Pacers were attempting to inbound the ball with 4:32 left, Mathurin appeared to punch Hunter, who was guarding him. Joe Vardon, New York Times, 12 May 2025 Still, Sheinbaum rejected Trump’s offer — delivered in a testy telephone call last month — to send the U.S. Army to Mexico. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for testy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English testif, from Anglo-French, headstrong, from teste head — more at tester entry 2

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of testy was in 1523

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Testy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

testy

adjective
tes·​ty ˈtes-tē How to pronounce testy (audio)
testier; testiest
: easily annoyed : irritable
testily adverb
testiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on testy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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