short-tempered

adjective

short-tem·​pered ˌshȯrt-ˈtem-pərd How to pronounce short-tempered (audio)
Synonyms of short-temperednext
: having a quick temper

Synonyms of short-tempered

Examples of short-tempered in a Sentence

shop customers learned not to bother the short-tempered dog on their way out
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People who know Magyar have praised his discipline but have also described him as impatient, short-tempered, and sometimes abrasive. Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026 The senior attending physician’s behavior has worried many in the hospital as he's appeared more nihilistic and short-tempered than usual. Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 While searching, James tells Siegfried he’s been erratic, short-tempered, and forgetful. Alice Burton, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026 Slick, short-tempered and charismatically dangerous, Michael's DeVito is a bomb about to explode. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Expressing aggression recharges an angry and short-tempered internal battery that transfers into other parts of the adults’ lives. Christina Erickson, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025 Noticing how these patterns affect your personal life—say, leading to venting or being short-tempered at home—provides valuable insights into your reactions at work. Liz Kislik, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Doherty, then 19, became a superstar in the early ’90s playing the straitlaced but short-tempered Brenda Walsh as the show became a guilty pleasure for a generation. Ethan Sacks, NBC News, 14 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short-tempered was in 1877

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short-tempered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short-tempered. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

short-tempered

adjective
short-tem·​pered
ˈshȯrt-ˈtem-pərd
: easily angered
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster