trigger-happy

adjective

trig·​ger-hap·​py ˈtri-gər-ˌha-pē 

1

: irresponsible in the use of firearms

especially : inclined to shoot before clearly identifying the target

2

a

: inclined to be irresponsible in matters that might precipitate war

b

: aggressively belligerent in attitude

Examples of trigger-happy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

We should be asked how our youth retain the impulse to be free when trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and snipers are ordered to kill unarmed children demanding their human rights. —Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026

The fifth pick in the 2025 draft has shown flashes as a scorer and pull-up shooter and has surprised many with his ability to make quick-decision passes, something that wasn’t exactly a feature of his game in his one trigger-happy season at Rutgers. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

The instructors wear orange guns with rubber bullets, and some have become unnervingly trigger-happy. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Feb. 2026

The Iranian government has long maintained a rather trigger-happy approach to censorship, to put it mildly. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trigger-happy

• chappie
• happy
• nappy
• pappy
• sappy
• scrappy
• snappy
• unhappy