snappish

[ snap-ish ]

adjective

1. apt to snap or bite, as a dog.
2. disposed to speak or reply in an impatient or irritable manner.
3. impatiently or irritably sharp; curt:

   a snappish reply.

Other Words From

• snappish·ly adverb
• snappish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of snappish¹

First recorded in 1535–45; snap + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Full of snappy and snappish dialogue, the book imagines a carnival-esque week’s idyll in the “shantytown of millionaires” that was 1950s Malibu.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes he was snappish, and sometimes just whiny, but always bristling.

From Salon

DeSantis is a historically bad candidate, snappish and known for eating pudding with his fingers.

From Salon

That means that when characters are being snappish, they lack the charm that should keep us rooting for them.

From Washington Post

Lulu has been traumatized by her experiences on the front lines and is skittish and snappish.

From Seattle Times