Definition of irascible
: marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger
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Examples of irascible in a Sentence
an irascible old football coach
He has an irascible disposition.
Recent Examples of irascible from the Web
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The latest in a seemingly endless procession of documentaries about shutterbugs, The Incomparable Rose Hartman doesn’t quite make the case for lengthily profiling its irascible and not particularly interesting subject.
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In Funny or Die’s riotous historical revisionism, Tesla is played by John C. Reilly, while the irascible Edison is inhabited by Crispin Glover.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irascible'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Irascible Has an Angry History
If you try to take apart "irascible" in the same manner as "irrational," "irresistible," or "irresponsible," you might find yourself wondering what "ascible" means-but that's not how "irascible" came to be. The key to the meaning of "irascible" isn't the negative prefix ir- (which is used before words that begin with "r"), but the Latin noun ira, meaning "anger." From "ira," which is also the root of "irate" and "ire," came the Latin verb irasci ("to become angry"), which led to French irascible. English speakers borrowed the word from French in the 16th century.
Origin and Etymology of irascible
Middle French, from Late Latin irascibilis, from Latin irasci to become angry, be angry, from ira
First Known Use: circa 1530
IRASCIBLE Defined for English Language Learners
irascible
playDefinition of irascible for English Language Learners
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: becoming angry very easily : having a bad temper
IRASCIBLE Defined for Kids
irascible
playDefinition of irascible for Students
: easily angered
Learn More about irascible
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See words that rhyme with irascible Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for irascible Spanish Central: Translation of irascible Nglish: Translation of irascible for Spanish speakers
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