Crossword Dictionary
irascible
choleric, irascible - a
characterized by anger; "a choleric outburst"; "an irascible response"
synonyms
choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irritable, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stuffy, testy, waspish
in a sentence
an irascible old football coach
He has an irascible disposition.
The irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II
etymology
late 14c., from Old French irascible (12c.) and directly from Late Latin irascibilis, from Latin irasci "be angry, be in a rage," from ira "anger" (see ire).
Irascible indicates quicker and more intense bursts of anger than irritable, and less powerful, lasting, or manifest bursts than passionate.