irascible
Americanadjective
-
easily provoked to anger; very irritable.
an irascible old man.
- Synonyms:
- short-tempered, choleric, peppery, touchy, testy
- Antonyms:
- even-tempered, calm
-
characterized or produced by anger.
an irascible response.
- Synonyms:
- short-tempered, choleric, peppery, touchy, testy
- Antonyms:
- even-tempered, calm
adjective
-
easily angered; irritable
-
showing irritability
an irascible action
Synonym Usage
See irritable.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of irascible
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English irascibel from Late Latin īrāscibilis, equivalent to Latin īrāsc- (stem of īrāscī “to grow angry”; equivalent to īr(a) ire + -ā- theme vowel + -sc- inchoative suffix + -ī infinitive ending; see -esce) + -ibilis -ible
Explanation
If you're irascible, you get angry easily — perhaps blowing up in rage when someone brushes into you. Irascible comes from the Latin root ira, which means "anger" or "rage," the same root that gives us the word ire, "anger." The -sc in the middle of irascible, means "becoming," so irascible doesn't just mean you're angry — it's got action built into it. If you're looking for a fight most of the time, then you're irascible — ready for the spark that's going to set you on fire.
Vocabulary lists containing irascible
To Kill a Mockingbird
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Negative Words to Describe a Person
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Irascible" is a good word to apply to her.
From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2018
Irascible and inimitable, Mr. Smith kept the Fall going for four decades and more than 30 albums.
From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2018
Irascible and inimitable, Smith kept The Fall going for four decades and more than 30 albums.
From Washington Times • Jan. 24, 2018
Irascible to the end, he told her that he was "totally unrepentant," and said that being remembered was "not important."
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2016
Irascible and quick-tempered as he was, he was easily appeased, and the fact that Jerrie was Arthur Tracy's daughter changed his opinion of her at once.
From Tracy Park by Holmes, Mary Jane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
