Irascible
/ɪˈræsəbl/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Irascible means someone who becomes angry very fast, often for small reasons. This person may have a short temper and can be easily annoyed or upset. It is usually used to describe a personality trait of being quick to anger.
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See It in Action
Describing a person who gets angry easily
- •The irascible teacher often shouted at students for small mistakes.
- •My grandfather is irascible, so you have to be careful what you say around him.
- •The irascible chef became upset when the order was late.
Describing behavior showing quick irritation
- •His irascible mood made the meeting uncomfortable.
- •She gave an irascible reply when asked a simple question.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "irascible" like "angry," but it means being angry more often and faster than usual
- ✓Picture a small volcano that erupts quickly with little warning, showing sudden anger
- ✓It's the feeling when someone snaps or loses patience very fast, like when someone is easily irritated by small problems
- ✓Sounds like "eye-RAS-uh-bull" → Imagine a bull (strong and angry animal) with eyes that flash quickly, ready to charge at any small problem
- ✓Think of the character Mr. Grumpy from stories who often gets mad at little things
- ✓NOT like "calm" (peaceful and relaxed), irascible means quick to anger and irritation
- ✓NOT like "angry" which can be temporary, irascible is a general personality trait of being easily upset
- ✓NOT like "patient" which means able to stay calm even in difficult situations
Try Other Words
- •Touchy: easily upset or offended (Use when the person is sensitive and easily hurt or annoyed)
- •Short-tempered: quick to lose patience or become angry (Use when focusing on fast anger reactions)
- •Grumpy: often in a bad mood and easily annoyed (Use for less serious, more everyday irritation)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "ir-" (a form of "in-" meaning "not" or intensifying) + "rasc" from Latin "rascible" related to anger + "-ible" (able to be)
- •Etymology: From Latin "irascibilis," meaning "easily provoked to anger"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s in English to describe people quick to anger
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in formal or literary English to describe quick-tempered people or moods
Reflect & Connect
•Can being irascible ever be a helpful trait, or is it always negative? Why?
•How might you handle a situation when someone you know is irascible?
Fill in the blanks
1.The irascible manager became angry ___ the smallest mistake during the presentation.
2.When someone is irascible, they often react ___ and without much warning.
3.Unlike a calm person, an irascible individual finds it hard to ___ their anger.
4.The phrase "irascible old man" often describes someone who is ___ and easily upset.
5.People who are irascible may ___ small problems into big arguments.
6.She answered the question in an irascible tone, showing her ___.
7.To avoid conflict, it is best to speak ___ around an irascible person.