Testily

Testily describes behaving in a bad-tempered, irritable, or impatient way, often in response to a perceived annoyance or frustration. It implies a sharp, sometimes snappy, tone of voice or manner. The word often indicates a lack of composure and a tendency to take offense easily. The underlying emotion is typically anger or exasperation, shown through curt responses, abrupt actions, or a generally disagreeable attitude. It reflects a heightened sensitivity and a low threshold for tolerating even minor irritations. It is a quality associated with the testy individual.

Testily meaning with examples

• The customer, already late for his appointment, grew testily when the receptionist couldn't immediately locate his file. 'Can't you find anything around here?' he snapped, tapping his foot impatiently. His outburst shocked the usually composed staff. It was clear the delay, however small, had pushed him past his breaking point, revealing a testy demeanor fueled by his anxiety about being tardy.
• After a long day dealing with difficult clients, the lawyer responded testily to his assistant's innocent question. 'Don't you see I'm busy?' he barked, his voice sharp. The exhaustion had eroded his patience, leaving him with an uncharacteristic testiness. He quickly regretted his tone, but the damage was done, highlighting his testy exhaustion, making him a hard person to work with in that moment.
• When the children wouldn't stop bickering in the backseat during a family road trip, the father testily demanded silence. 'Are we there yet?' one child asked, and he responded testily. The accumulated stress of driving and the endless arguing manifested in his irritable response. This revealed his testy impatience, making for a tense car ride, because of his heightened state.
• The chef, under pressure to complete a large order, testily scolded his kitchen staff for a minor mistake. 'This isn't rocket science!' he shouted, pointing to the error. His stress, however, caused him to react testily, causing the rest of his staff to work with unease. His usually calm demeanor was replaced with an uncharacteristic testiness fueled by his deadlines.
• During the tense negotiations, the union representative testily countered the company's offer. 'That's simply not acceptable!' he declared, his voice laced with irritation. The stakes were high, and his testiness reflected his frustration with the employer's position. His testy display showed everyone on the negotiating floor how dissatisfied the union really was.