fractious
Adjective
This word carries a sharp, jagged energy, suggesting a spirit that is easily broken or splintered into conflict. It describes a specific kind of volatility where the subject is not just angry, but actively prickly and prone to sudden outbursts of disobedience. In a political or organizational sense, it describes a group that has split into competing factions. While "irritable" describes a mood, "fractious" describes a behavioral pattern of resistance and friction that disrupts harmony or order.