snappy

American  

[snap-ee] / ˈsnæp i /

adjective

snappier, snappiest

1. apt to snap or bite; snappish, as a dog.

2. impatient or irritable, as a person or a reply.

3. snapping or crackling in sound, as a fire.

4. quick or sudden in action or performance.

5. Informal. crisp, smart, lively, brisk, etc..

   Only snappy people get ahead in this world.

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idioms

1. make it snappy, to speed up; hurry.

snappy British  

/ ˈsnæpɪ /

adjective

1. Also: snappish.  apt to speak sharply or irritably

2. Also: snappish.  apt to snap or bite

3. crackling in sound

   a snappy fire

4. brisk, sharp, or chilly

   a snappy pace

   snappy weather

5. smart and fashionable

   a snappy dresser

6. slang be quick! hurry up!

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snappy More Idioms  

1. see under make haste.

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Other Word Forms

• snappily adverb
• snappiness noun

Etymology

Origin of snappy

First recorded in 1740–50; snap + -y ¹

Example Sentences

His gripping stories, as Tom Nolan observes, are marked by “individualized characters, snappy dialogue and historical awareness.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

He's the only artist with album of the year nominations for five consecutive releases, and GNX is a snappy, crowd-pleasing tour de force.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

Otherwise, I'm just going to be snappy with the people around me.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Told in Patterson’s signature snappy chapters, it is an absorbing read, but I kept wondering when the villain would show up.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

Since it was a snappy gold-colored day, we went off to get some more rabbit skins to finish my winter underwear.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George