as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
shop customers learned not to bother the short-tempered dog on their way out
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Recent Examples of short-tempered
After the pizza has been served on the cake stand, Ben apologizes for being short-tempered.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
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
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
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-tempered
irritable
Adjective
-
Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.
-
They can be withdrawn or irritable.
Cite this Entry
“Short-tempered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-tempered. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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