ill-temperedness

ill-temperedness

A man's ill-temperedness is clear from his scowl and crossed arms.

Definition

Noun (uncountable): The state or quality of being easily annoyed, irritable, or having a bad temper; a disposition to be cross, grumpy, or ill-humored.

Usage Examples
  • (His habitual irritability created a challenging environment.)
  • (The child's grumpy mood was linked to tiredness.)
  • (She attempted to conceal her irritable disposition.)
Advanced Usage
  • "A streak of ill-temperedness": a tendency toward irritability that appears occasionally.
    • Beneath his calm exterior, there was a streak of ill-temperedness that surfaced under stress. (He had a hidden irritable side.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Ill-tempered (adj): having a bad temper; irritable.
    • The ill-tempered driver shouted at everyone in traffic. (The driver was easily angered.)
  • Temper (n): a person's state of mind regarding anger or calmness.
    • She has a quick temper. (She becomes angry easily.)
  • Temperamental (adj): liable to unpredictable changes of mood.
    • The actor was temperamental and often difficult to work with. (The actor was moody.)
Synonyms
  • Irritability: the quality of being easily annoyed.
  • Grumpiness: a state of being sulky or bad-tempered.
  • Crankiness: a tendency to be easily irritated, often used for children or older adults.
Related Idioms
  • "Get up on the wrong side of the bed": to start the day in a bad mood.
    • He must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, given his ill-temperedness this morning. (He woke up irritable.)
  • "In a foul mood": being very irritable or angry.
    • Her ill-temperedness was obvious; she was clearly in a foul mood. (She was obviously angry.)
Antonyms
  • Good-naturedness: a pleasant, cheerful disposition.
  • Equanimity: mental calmness and composure, especially in difficult situations.