1
a
: given to curt irritable speech
b
: arising from annoyance or irascibility
a snappish remark
2
: inclined to bite
a snappish dog
snappishly
adverb
snappishness
noun
Examples of snappish in a Sentence
The shoppers were snappish and rude.
I always start feeling snappish whenever I get really hungry.
Recent Examples on the Web
Harriette Cole: My twins are getting snappish over college acceptance
Asking Eric: A cemetery guard ruined my father’s funeral, and that was just the start
This includes stating your belief that your explanations may not be believed.
—
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
Named Lija, the wary but winsome mutt — in fact played by the filmmaker’s own pet — is snappish and defensive when her wounds are first treated, only to slowly relent and relax in the face of genuine tenderness.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
The film’s co-star, Diane Kruger, plays several roles, notably Karsh’s late wife (seen in flashback) and her snappish veterinarian-turned-dog-groomer sister.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 May 2024
Keynes is a snappish but patient listener.
—Maggie Lange, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023
But Poker Face in general has a snappish rhythm, a retro luster, a good eye for the lonely grandeur of American nowhere towns.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 25 Jan. 2023
Here the journalist is Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), a snappish, once prominent reporter whom Louis encountered half a century ago in San Francisco.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2022
Which means that Amandine is callous and unkind and Jamie is snappish and blunt to a fault.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
His snappish behavior over leaky pens and other annoyances caught on camera in the days after his mother’s death proved to be uglier than anything on display here.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2022
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.
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
Named Lija, the wary but winsome mutt — in fact played by the filmmaker’s own pet — is snappish and defensive when her wounds are first treated, only to slowly relent and relax in the face of genuine tenderness.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
The film’s co-star, Diane Kruger, plays several roles, notably Karsh’s late wife (seen in flashback) and her snappish veterinarian-turned-dog-groomer sister.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 May 2024
Keynes is a snappish but patient listener.
—Maggie Lange, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023
But Poker Face in general has a snappish rhythm, a retro luster, a good eye for the lonely grandeur of American nowhere towns.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 25 Jan. 2023
Here the journalist is Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), a snappish, once prominent reporter whom Louis encountered half a century ago in San Francisco.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2022
Which means that Amandine is callous and unkind and Jamie is snappish and blunt to a fault.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
His snappish behavior over leaky pens and other annoyances caught on camera in the days after his mother’s death proved to be uglier than anything on display here.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Snappish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snappish. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share