impatient

[ im-pey-shuhnt ]

adjective

1. not patient; not accepting delay, opposition, pain, etc., with calm or patience.

   Synonyms: abrupt, brusque, curt, hot, violent, fretful, testy, irritable, unquiet, uneasy

   Antonyms: calm

2. indicating lack of patience:

   an impatient answer.

   Synonyms: abrupt, brusque, curt, hot, violent, fretful, testy, irritable

3. restless in desire or expectation; eagerly desirous.

   Synonyms: hasty, sudden, precipitate, impetuous

impatient

/ ɪmˈpeɪʃənt /

adjective

1. lacking patience; easily irritated at delay, opposition, etc
2. exhibiting lack of patience

   an impatient retort

3. postpositivefoll byof intolerant (of) or indignant (at)

   impatient of indecision

4. postpositiveoften foll byfor restlessly eager (for something or to do something)

Derived Forms

• imˈpatiently, adverb

Other Words From

• im·patient·ly adverb
• im·patient·ness noun
• unim·patient adjective
• unim·patient·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of impatient¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English impacient, from Latin impatient-, stem of impatiēns “not enduring, not tolerating”; equivalent to im- ² + patient

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. impatient of, intolerant of:

   impatient of any interruptions.

Example Sentences

On AboveTopSecret, Syrian Sister was impatient for his execution.

From The Daily Beast

When impatient or tired, as he often is in his wheelchair, he stims: tapping his head, biting his arm, rocking.

From The Daily Beast

After a while I became impatient and tried to move, but the box was too narrow.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, a Plan B, one that places more stock in patient strategy as opposed to impatient action.

From The Daily Beast

But the shutdown is something of a sideshow, provoked by impatient conservatives who wanted confrontation.

From The Daily Beast

He stared at his men, astonished and impatient at this strange disobedience.

From Project Gutenberg

The carriage, waiting to convey them away, was already at the door, the impatient horses pawing the ground.

From Project Gutenberg

An impatient pupil who never learns anything thoroughly often disregards the rule about silent consonants.

From Project Gutenberg

The socialist reads such criticism as the above with impatient approval.

From Project Gutenberg

He would at once become stubborn and ugly, because he is not used to our quick, nervous, impatient ways.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anxious
• eager
• irritable
• keen
• restless
• testy
• thirsty