as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
forced to endure a memorably irascible boss on her first job after college
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Recent Examples of irascible
Instead of a caricature, the actor turned Gustav into someone irascible yet charming, softening and conflicted in their golden years.
—
Thomas Page, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Now in its fifth season, the Apple TV drama follows a gang of screw-up spies who are nobody’s idea of the Avengers, led by Gary Oldman’s irascible, flatulent Jackson Lamb.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
In Fawlty Towers, Scales played the irascible and long-suffering Sybil Fawlty, who was often angered by the bumbling incompetence of husband and hotel manager Basil, played by Cleese.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
If the lead-up to Benfica’s visit, and even the game itself, had the feel of a reunion at times, there were still flashes of the irascible Mourinho of old.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irascible
Thomas Page, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Now in its fifth season, the Apple TV drama follows a gang of screw-up spies who are nobody’s idea of the Avengers, led by Gary Oldman’s irascible, flatulent Jackson Lamb.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
In Fawlty Towers, Scales played the irascible and long-suffering Sybil Fawlty, who was often angered by the bumbling incompetence of husband and hotel manager Basil, played by Cleese.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
If the lead-up to Benfica’s visit, and even the game itself, had the feel of a reunion at times, there were still flashes of the irascible Mourinho of old.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irascible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irascible
Adjective
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Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
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On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The fiery meeting at the South Shore Cultural Center began with local Ald.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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House Democrats clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday during a fiery hearing on Capitol Hill that devolved into shouting matches and throwing sharp elbows.—
Fritz Farrow,
ABC News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irascible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irascible. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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