ill-tempered
/'il'tempəd/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Easily annoyed or angered; irritable: Describes a person who frequently becomes angry, annoyed, or impatient, often over minor issues.
- Having a bad temper: Characterized by a tendency to be in a bad mood or to express anger readily.
Usage
- The adjective ill-tempered is used to describe a person's characteristic mood or disposition. It is typically placed before a noun (e.g., an ill-tempered man) or used after a linking verb (e.g., He is ill-tempered).
- It is a formal and somewhat literary term. In everyday conversation, words like "grumpy," "cranky," or "bad-tempered" are more common.
Examples
- Before a noun:
- The ill-tempered manager often yelled at employees for small mistakes.
- We tried to avoid the ill-tempered old dog in the neighborhood.
- After a linking verb:
- She becomes particularly ill-tempered when she is tired.
- The customer was rude and ill-tempered throughout the entire transaction.
Advanced Usage
- "ill-tempered remark/response": A comment or reply made in a state of irritation or anger.
- He made an ill-tempered remark about the service and stormed out.
- "ill-tempered debate/discussion": A formal argument or exchange that is characterized by anger and hostility rather than civility.
- The meeting devolved into an ill-tempered debate over minor budgetary details.
Variants and Related Words
- Bad-tempered (adj): A more common synonym with the same meaning.
- Ill-humored (adj): (Formal) Having a bad mood or disposition.
- Ill-natured (adj): Having an unkind or unpleasant disposition.
- Cantankerous (adj): Often ill-tempered and quarrelsome (typically used for older people).
- Irritable (adj): Having a tendency to become easily annoyed or provoked.
Synonyms
- Grumpy: Bad-tempered and irritable.
- Cranky: Irritable, often used informally.
- Grouchy: In a bad mood and complaining.
- Testy: Easily irritated and impatient.
- Peevish: Easily annoyed, especially by unimportant things.
Antonyms
- Good-tempered: Having a pleasant and patient disposition.
- Easygoing: Relaxed and not easily annoyed.
- Amiable: Having a friendly and pleasant manner.
- Genial: Friendly and cheerful.
- Placid: Not easily upset or excited.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To have a short fuse: (Idiom) To become angry very easily.
- Be careful what you say; he has a very short fuse.
- To fly off the handle: (Idiom) To suddenly become very angry.
- She flew off the handle when she saw the mess in the kitchen.
Adjective
-
annoyed and irritable
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ tương tự
