Synonyms of irascible

irascible

adjective

i-ˈra-sə-bəl 

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed

forced to endure a memorably irascible boss on her first job after college

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritable
• fiery
• peevish
• petulant
• crotchety
• snappish
• grumpy
• grouchy
• waspish
• choleric
• testy
• pettish
• crabby
• snarky
• short-tempered
• passionate
• cranky
• raspy
• cross
• snippy
• cantankerous
• quick-tempered
• out of humor
• sensitive
• out of sorts
• stuffy
• ornery
• curmudgeonly
• prickly
• perverse
• querulous
• pugnacious
• dyspeptic
• surly
• disagreeable
• ratty
• bilious
• belligerent
• contentious
• snarly
• combative
• snippety
• ill-tempered
• fretful
• short
• snappy
• bellicose
• quarrelsome
• truculent
• argumentative
• sulky
• fractious
• ill-humored
• tetchy
• sullen
• ill-natured
• disputatious
• cross-grained
• scrappy
• pouty
• huffy
• bearish
• touchy
• thin-skinned
• off-color
• hot-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• affable
• gregarious
• friendly
• outgoing
• genial
• amiable
• cordial
• companionable
• sociable
• extroverted
• sweet
• good-natured
• agreeable
• easygoing
• carefree
• good-tempered
• patient
• relaxed
• well-disposed
• stoic
• tolerant
• long-suffering
• forbearing
• uncomplaining
• understanding
• obliging
• happy-go-lucky

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of irascible

Neill starred in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders as Chester Campbell, an irascible and ruthless inspector charged with rooting out organized crime in Birmingham. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 July 2026

For the first time, that includes In Living Color vet Kim Wayans, going large as irascible hospital staffer Nurse Ratchett. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

No true irascible aging genius worth his salt is without a ready supply of white socks brightening up the chest of drawers. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

As embodied by John Lithgow, Dahl is incisive, avuncular, irascible, acerbic, and always entertaining. — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026

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