Irascible: meaning, definitions and examples

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irascible

 

[ ɪˈræsəbəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

short-tempered

Having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.

Synonyms

cranky, hot-tempered, irritable, testy

Examples of usage

  • He was known for his irascible temperament.
  • The irascible old man shouted at anyone who dared to disturb him.
  • She tried to control her irascible nature, but sometimes it got the best of her.
Context #2 | Adjective

easily provoked

Easily provoked to anger; very irritable.

Synonyms

cantankerous, crabby, peevish, touchy

Examples of usage

  • His irascible behavior often led to conflicts with his colleagues.
  • The irascible response to minor issues only escalated the situation.
  • The teacher's irascible mood made the students nervous.

Translations

Translations of the word "irascible" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irascível

🇮🇳 चिड़चिड़ा

🇩🇪 reizbar

🇮🇩 pemarah

🇺🇦 дратівливий

🇵🇱 drażliwy

🇯🇵 怒りっぽい (okorippoi)

🇫🇷 irascible

🇪🇸 irascible

🇹🇷 asabi

🇰🇷 화를 잘 내는 (hwa-reul jal na-neun)

🇸🇦 سريع الغضب (sari' alghadab)

🇨🇿 vznětlivý

🇸🇰 prchavý

🇨🇳 易怒的 (yìnù de)

🇸🇮 razdražljiv

🇮🇸 reiður

🇰🇿 ашулы

🇬🇪 ფიცხი (phitchi)

🇦🇿 qəzəbli

🇲🇽 irascible

Etymology

The word 'irascible' originated from the Latin word 'irascibilis', which means inclined to anger. It has been used in English since the 16th century to describe individuals who are easily angered or provoked. The term highlights a temperament characterized by a quick and intense response to perceived slights or annoyances. Over time, 'irascible' has become a popular adjective to depict someone with a short fuse or a tendency to fly off the handle.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,276, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.