French word

irascible

Pronunciation

IPA/iʁasibl/

Meaning

  • adjectiveshort-tempered

Example

Mon oncle est irascible.

My uncle is short-tempered.

Illustration for irascible (short-tempered)

More examples

Après une longue journée, elle devient irascible.

After a long day, she becomes irascible.

Core concept

A person whose temper flares at small triggers.

Common phrases

  • réagir de façon irascible

    react irascibly

  • être parfois irascible

    be irascible at times

Similar words

colérique: Prone to anger and sudden emotional outbursts.
irritable: Easily upset or made bad-tempered by small irritations.
agacé: Feeling mildly annoyed or irritated.

Definition in French

Qui se met facilement en colère; qui s'emporte vite pour de petites choses.

Word origin

French irascible comes from Latin irascibilis, derived from irasci, 'to become angry,' with -bilis expressing a tendency or capacity.

Usage tips

  • Irascible sounds more formal or literary than everyday phrases such as il se fâche facilement or il s'énerve vite.

Opposites

Related words

  • irascibilitéirascibilitynoun

Word lists with this word