adjective

irascible

/ɪˈræsəbəl/ · say it: ih·RAS·uh·bul

easily angered; hot-tempered

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) easily angered; having a tendency to become irritated or angry very quickly

Examples

He has an irascible temperament and gets upset over minor inconveniences.

How to use irascible

Irascible describes a dispositional tendency to anger rather than a temporary state, making it suitable for characterizing someone's personality or character. It is more formal and literary than synonyms like irritable or short-tempered, and often carries an implicit judgment that the anger is easily provoked without good cause. It is commonly used in literary or character descriptions rather than everyday speech.

Common phrases

irascible temperament
irascible nature
irascible old man
irascible mood
grow irascible

Synonyms

irritable · quick-tempered · hot-headed · short-tempered · testy

Opposites

patient · calm · placid

Word family

irascibility (noun) · irascibly (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse irascible with irrascible (misspelling), or use it to describe a single episode of anger rather than an established trait or tendency.

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