Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easily provoked to anger; having a hot temper: Describes a person who becomes angry very quickly and frequently, often over minor matters.
   • Characterized by or arising from anger: Describes a mood, response, or behavior that is marked by irritability and a tendency to flare up.

Usage

• The word irascible is a formal adjective used to describe a person's temperament or a reaction stemming from such a temperament. It implies a habitual, ingrained tendency toward irritability rather than a single, isolated incident of anger.
• It is often used in literary, psychological, or descriptive contexts.

Examples

• Describing a person:
  • The old professor was known to be brilliant but irascible, often snapping at students who asked simple questions.
  • Despite his irascible nature, he had a kind heart that few took the time to discover.
• Describing a mood or response:
  • She gave an irascible reply, tired of repeating the same instructions.
  • His irascible outburst was triggered by the constant noise from the construction site.

Advanced Usage

• "Irascible" vs. "Angry": While "angry" describes a temporary emotional state, "irascible" describes a permanent character trait. An irascible person is to becoming angry.
• In literature and description: The term is often used to add depth to a character's personality, suggesting a prickly exterior that may hide other qualities.
  • The detective in the novel was a classic irascible genius, solving crimes but alienating everyone with his temper.

Variants and Related Words

• Irascibility (noun): The quality or state of being irascible.
  • His irascibility made him a difficult colleague.
• Irascibly (adverb): In an irascible manner.
  • He muttered irascibly under his breath.

Synonyms

• Hot-tempered: Quickly and easily angered.
• Testy: Irritably impatient.
• Cantankerous: Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative (often used for older people).
• Choleric (formal): Easily angered; bad-tempered.
• Quick-tempered: Liable to lose temper quickly.

Antonyms

• Easygoing: Relaxed and tolerant.
• Placid: Not easily upset or excited.
• Good-natured: Kind, patient, and not easily angered.
• Phlegmatic (formal): Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.

Idioms and Phrases

• While there is no specific idiom using the word irascible, the concept is captured in common phrases like:
  • To have a short fuse: To be easily angered.

    • Be careful what you say; he has a very short fuse.
  • To fly off the handle: To suddenly become very angry.

    • He flies off the handle at the slightest criticism.

Adjective

1. characterized by anger
   • a choleric outburst
   • an irascible response
2. quickly aroused to anger
   • a hotheaded commander