Waspish: meaning, definitions and examples

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waspish

 

[ หˆwษ‘หspษชสƒ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behavioral description

Waspish describes someone who is irritable or ready to bite back. This term conveys an image of a person who can be quick-tempered, much like a wasp that stings when threatened. It usually relates to a sharp, sarcastic, or cutting manner of speaking.

Synonyms

acrimonious, irritable, sharp-tongued, snappish

Examples of usage

  • His waspish remarks created a tense atmosphere during the meeting.
  • She had a waspish attitude towards her coworkers after that incident.
  • Despite her waspish exterior, she cared deeply for her friends.

Translations

Translations of the word "waspish" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น agressivo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคšเคฟเคกเคผเคšเคฟเคกเคผเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช reizbar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pemarah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั€ะพะทะดั€ะฐั‚ะพะฒะฐะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ podejrzliwy

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ„ใ‚‰ใ„ใ‚‰ใ—ใŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท irritable

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ irritable

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท huysuz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์งœ์ฆ๋‚˜๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุตุจูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ popudlivรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ popudlivรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ˜“ๆ€’็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ jezen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ pirrandi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐัˆัƒะปะฐะฝา“ั‹ัˆ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒงแƒ”แƒšแƒจแƒ˜ แƒกแƒฌแƒงแƒ˜แƒœแƒก

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hirsli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ irritable

Etymology

The word 'waspish' originates from the late Middle English period, deriving from the word 'wasp,' which refers to the insect known for its painful sting. The term draws a parallel between the behavior of a person who is quick to anger or harsh in their speech and the aggressive nature of wasps when they feel threatened. The etymology reflects a metaphorical use, emphasizing the sharpness and potential harm in both the insect's sting and the person's words. Over time, 'waspish' has evolved to commonly describe a biting wit or a sardonic sense of humor. It captures the essence of someone who possesses a sharp tongue, often using it to deliver scathing criticism or wit, similar to how a wasp might react defensively.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,918, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.