testily

UK: /ˈtestɪlɪ/ US: /ˈtɛstəli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tes•ty /ˈtɛsti/   adj., -ti•er, -ti•est. 

1. irritable; impatient;
   touchy:
   a testy reply.

tes•ti•ly /ˈtɛstəli/  adv. 
tes•ti•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tes•ty  (tes′tē), adj., -ti•er, -ti•est. 

1. irritably impatient;
   touchy.

• Middle French. See test², -ive
• 1325–75; late Middle English testi, alteration of Middle French testu headstrong; replacing Middle English testif

tes′ti•ly, adv. 
tes′ti•ness, n. 
Synonyms

tetchy, edgy, snappish, cross, irascible. See irritable. 

Antonyms

composed.