Irascible: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when describing someone who gets angry easily and often. It suggests a general tendency toward becoming irritated quickly.

• The irascible professor yelled at students for minor mistakes.
• An irascible temper can make it hard to maintain friendships.

Describes someone who can get annoyed easily, often due to external factors like stress or lack of sleep. It can refer to both temporary and long-term states.

• After working long hours, she felt irritable and needed some rest.
• He became irritable when he didn't get his way.

This phrase refers to someone who reacts quickly with anger. It usually highlights a person's tendency to become very angry very quickly.

• A hot-tempered driver can be dangerous on the road.
• He apologized for his hot-tempered reaction during the meeting.

This is less formal and can be used to describe someone who is easily annoyed or in a bad mood, often used in a more casual setting. It suggests a temporary state rather than a personality trait.

• The baby gets cranky when she misses her nap.
• He's been cranky all morning since he didn't get his coffee.

This term is similar to 'cranky' but with a slight connotation of being touchy or easily irritated, often used in informal or casual contexts.

• Don't ask him tricky questions when he's testy.
• She's been a little testy since she started her new job.

Used to describe someone who is easily angered and has a hot temper. This word is often employed in more formal or literary contexts.

• The irascible old man yelled at the children for playing too close to his garden.
• I try to avoid discussing politics with him because he can be quite irascible.

Used to describe someone who is easily offended or can be very sensitive about certain topics.

• Be careful what you say around him; he's very touchy about that subject.
• She is usually calm but can be touchy about her personal space.

Refers to someone who is often ill-tempered and uncooperative, generally used to describe older people.

• The cantankerous neighbor complained about every minor noise.
• Despite his cantankerous nature, he has a good heart.

Describes someone who tends to be easily irritated and is often complaining about small matters.

• The peevish child whined for most of the car trip.
• Her peevish remarks were starting to get on everyone's nerves.

Used in casual conversations to describe someone who is easily annoyed and often irritable, typically used in a mild and somewhat playful manner.

• She's always crabby in the morning before her coffee.
• Don't be so crabby. It's just a little rain.