snuffy
Definition
Snuffy (adjective)
- Resembling or smelling of snuff: Pertaining to or having the qualities of snuff (powdered tobacco taken through the nose).
- Worldly-wise or sophisticated (slang): No longer naive or inexperienced.
- Irritable or annoyed (American English): In a state of displeasure or bad temper.
Usage Examples
- Resembling snuff:
- The old man's coat had a snuffy odor from years of tobacco use. (The coat smelled like powdered tobacco.)
- Sophisticated:
- After traveling the world, he became quite snuffy and no longer believed in fairy tales. (He became worldly-wise and stopped being naive.)
- Irritable:
- She was feeling snuffy after a long day at work. (She was annoyed or in a bad mood.)
Advanced Usage
- "to get snuffy": to become irritated or annoyed.
- Don't get snuffy with me just because you lost the game. (Don't become angry with me.)
Variants and Related Words
- Snuff (noun): powdered tobacco for inhalation.
- He took a pinch of snuff before the meeting. (He inhaled a small amount of tobacco powder.)
- Snuff (verb): to extinguish a candle or flame.
- She snuffed out the candle before leaving. (She put out the flame.)
- Snuffy (comparative: snuffier; superlative: snuffiest): more or most resembling snuff or being irritable.
- This room is snuffier than the last. (This room smells more of snuff.)
Synonyms
- For "resembling snuff": tobacco-scented, powdery.
- For "worldly-wise": sophisticated, cynical, jaded.
- For "irritable": cross, peevish, testy, grumpy.
Idioms
- "Snuffy as a bear": extremely irritable or bad-tempered.
- He was snuffy as a bear after missing his breakfast. (He was very grumpy.)
Related Words (with different meanings)
- Snuff (noun): the charred part of a candle wick.
- Trim the snuff to make the candle burn more brightly. (Cut off the burnt part of the wick.)
Cultural Note
The slang meaning "sophisticated" is now considered dated or obscure. The most common modern usage is the American English sense of "irritable."