grew irritable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grew irritable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone becoming increasingly annoyed or impatient over time. Example: "As the meeting dragged on without resolution, she grew irritable and started tapping her pen on the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

During their later years together, she said Bonds grew irritable and verbally abusive — "almost violent".

The New York Times - Sports

Pressed, Mr. Trump grew irritable, saying: "How many times you want me to say it?

The New York Times

Native Americans lived in the area and grew irritable towards new settlers in the area.

Wikipedia

"It's a dangerous decision made by a judge who doesn't understand how policing works," he said at a packed press conference held hours after Scheindlin handed down her ruling, during which he often grew irritable over reporters' questions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He then began to behave strangely towards his lover, growing irritable and distant.

The Guardian - Books

When Jennifer Capriati grows irritable at the sound of a beeper, Venus maintains her oblivion to distraction.

The New York Times - Sports

When Rosen shrugs off the question, the census-taker grows irritable: "How did he die?" Davidov spoke impatiently.

The New Yorker

She's apt to grow irritable if you take her at anything less than her own estimation.

The Guardian - Arts

The people who wanted to walk faster were growing irritable, but the Pope spoke to them and said, "In the words of our Savior, 'Forgive them, for they know not what they do.

The New Yorker

He couldn't stay in the chamber for more than a few hours at a time, and in telephone conversations with the club's board of directors (who took to calling him B.O.B., for Bubble Office Boy) he found himself growing irritable and woozy.

The New Yorker

Last week, at Laura's urging — "She was like, 'Get out of here and go figure this out,' " he said — Pettitte, growing irritable, drove four hours from their home in Deer Park, Tex., to their ranch in south Texas, not far from Mexico.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grew irritable" to describe a gradual increase in annoyance or frustration, often due to external factors or prolonged situations.

Common error

Don't use "grew irritable" to describe a sudden, immediate reaction. Opt for phrases like "snapped" or "became angry" if the change in mood is instantaneous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew irritable" functions as a verb phrase indicating a gradual change in emotional state. It describes a process of becoming more easily annoyed or frustrated over a period of time. Ludwig examples show it used to describe people's reactions to situations and behaviors.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12.5%

Formal & Business

12.5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grew irritable" describes a gradual process of becoming more easily annoyed or frustrated. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically sound. Its use is most common in News & Media, conveying changes in mood over time. While alternatives like "became annoyed" or "turned testy" exist, "grew irritable" specifically emphasizes a gradual transition. When writing, reserve this phrase for describing gradual changes in mood rather than sudden reactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grew impatient

Similar to "got impatient" but emphasizes a gradual increase in impatience.

became annoyed

Focuses on the resulting state of annoyance rather than the process of becoming irritable.

grew testy

Similar to "turned testy" but shows a gradual transition.

turned testy

Implies a more abrupt and sharp change in mood.

got impatient

Highlights the feeling of restlessness and intolerance.

became short-tempered

Emphasizes the tendency to react angrily or irritably.

became exasperated

Suggests a higher degree of frustration and loss of patience.

became grumpy

Highlights a sullen and bad-tempered mood.

turned edgy

Suggests anxiety or nervousness contributing to irritability.

became touchy

Implies sensitivity and a tendency to take offense easily.

FAQs

How can I use "grew irritable" in a sentence?

You can use "grew irritable" to describe someone becoming increasingly annoyed or impatient over time, such as: "As the meeting dragged on, she "grew irritable" and started tapping her pen."

What's a good alternative to "grew irritable"?

Alternatives include phrases like "became annoyed", "grew impatient", or "turned testy", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "grew irritable" or "became irritable"?

Both phrases are suitable for neutral contexts. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, as they are largely interchangeable.

Can "grew irritable" describe an object or situation?

No, "grew irritable" typically describes the change in a person's mood or temperament, not inanimate objects or abstract situations.