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snappish

[snap-ish]
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adjective
  1. apt to snap or bite, as a dog.
  2. disposed to speak or reply in an impatient or irritable manner.
  3. impatiently or irritably sharp; curt: a snappish reply.
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Origin of snappish

First recorded in 1535–45; snap + -ish1
Related formssnap·pish·ly, adverbsnap·pish·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

angry, cantankerous, crabby, cranky, curt, irritable, touchy, captious, cross, edgy, irascible, peevish, petulant, short, testy, splenetic

Examples from the Web for snappish

Historical Examples

  • You're one of the crew, I suppose, and you needn't be so snappish.

    The Wizard of the Sea

    Roy Rockwood

  • They are half-wild, snappish, and surly, as it is possible for dogs to be.

  • "He's only a snappish little demon, and you spoil him so," said the other voice.

    The Marriage of Elinor

    Margaret Oliphant

  • He hates it; and when I tried to force him to-day, he was that sharp and snappish I was afraid.

    Divided Skates

    Evelyn Raymond

  • The cutlets of Alphonse were subject to snappish criticism. '

Word Origin and History for snappish

adj.

"peevish," 1540s, from snap (v.) + -ish. Related: Snappishly; snappishness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper