Definition of irascible in English:

adjective

• Having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.

  ‘an irascible and difficult man’

  More example sentences

  • ‘But when this self-involvement is threatened, well, then we see how irascible, irritable and bad tempered stoners can be.’
  • ‘Luc patiently visits his brother, uncomplainingly sticking by the bedside of this difficult and irascible man when everyone else deserts him.’
  • ‘Yet he was famously thin-skinned and irascible, as I have good reason to remember, if any criticism became directed at himself.’
  • ‘But she wasn't laughing at Leo; she was amused with her own irascible mood.’
  • ‘At the very same time, Teller was also seen as deeply irascible: thin-skinned, emotionally volatile, easily provoked, quick to take offense.’
  • ‘He was a famously difficult and irascible man, some might even have characterized as mad, but was unfailingly courteous, warm and hospitable towards me.’
  • ‘Because Papa grew so grouchy and irascible as his health failed, I wondered at times how many people really liked him.’
  • ‘In truth, he often proved an irascible, frustrating curmudgeon at the tribunal but people loved him for it.’
  • ‘What he doesn't mention is the mood swing from the honeysweet to the irascible.’
  • ‘Dunmore was certainly a haughty, irascible man, who made enemies easily and often.’
  • ‘What happened next led to a company boss pleading guilty to three charges after was provoked into what his solicitor Steven Culleton called ‘an irascible rage.’’
  • ‘The two make an odd couple both physically and emotionally - bulky, brooding, irascible Crowe contrasting with laid-back, long-limbed Bettany.’
  • ‘After 13 years playing the stubborn, long-pocketed and irascible Inspector Morse, this week will see the veteran actor finally wave goodbye to his most famous role.’
  • ‘This particular image consultant appears to have neglected his own image, or maybe he is just happy with being cynical, self-centred, irascible and insufferable.’
  • ‘The irascible Jim Godbolt, a long-time friend of Ronnie Scott, ruffled a few feathers 20 years ago when he published his book on the early decades of British jazz.’
  • ‘In the TV show, Bruno pointed out to his irascible music teacher, Mr Sharofsky, that modern technology made traditional instruments redundant.’
  • ‘He played the role for a decade and a half, delighting viewers with his portrayal of the irascible lawyer with references to wife Hilda as ‘she who must be obeyed’.’
  • ‘Frank's irascible uncle, who had raised him after his parents' death, is murdered on his farm and now his nephew wants to find the murderer and claim whatever inheritance he can.’
  • ‘But the picture drawn by Volkmar Braunbehrens's 1989 biography is of a serious, steady, occasionally irascible man.’
  • ‘The books usually revolved around the exploits of a Northern family, the Brandons, and in particular the dour son of the family Carter and the irascible Uncle Mort.’

  Synonyms

  irritable, quick-tempered, short-tempered, bad-tempered, ill-tempered, hot-tempered, thin-skinned, snappy, snappish, tetchy, testy, touchy, edgy, crabby, waspish, dyspeptic

  View synonyms