irascible
Quick to anger
Irascible describes someone easily provoked to anger—quick-tempered and prone to irritation.
The word often characterizes a personality rather than a momentary state: an irascible old man who yelled at neighborhood kids.
It's more literary than "cranky" or "grouchy" but carries similar meaning.
Easily provoked to anger
- cantankerousBad-tempered and argumentative
- curmudgeonlyBad-tempered and uncooperative
- crabbedCross and cramped
- orneryIll-tempered and stubborn
churlish · surly · testy · touchy · tetchy · prickly · snappish · waspish
Ill-tempered and peevish
- grouchyEasily annoyed, ill-tempered
- grumpyIrritable in temperament
- crossPass from side to side
- peevishHabitually fretful
petulant · querulous · fretful · sulky · sullen · morose · moody · crotchety
Unwilling to wait
- restlessUnable to be still
- agitatedEmotionally disturbed, restless
- edgyTense and irritable
- brusqueAbrupt and dismissive
curt · abrupt · snappish · testy · intolerant · hasty · demanding · fidgety
Prone to quick anger
- short-temperedProne to sudden anger
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
- hot-headedProne to sudden anger
- fieryIntensely hot or passionate
wrathful · furious · enraged · livid · seething · fuming · indignant · incensed
Prone to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- combustibleCapable of burning
unpredictable · capricious · turbulent · tempestuous · erratic · unstable · reactive · impulsive
choleric
Easily provoked to anger
- cantankerousBad-tempered and argumentative
- curmudgeonlyBad-tempered and uncooperative
- crabbedCross and cramped
ornery · churlish · surly · testy · touchy · tetchy · prickly · snappish · waspish · bearish
cranky
Ill-tempered and peevish
peevish · petulant · querulous · fretful · sulky · sullen · morose · moody · crotchety · snappy
impatient
Unwilling to wait
brusque · curt · abrupt · snappish · testy · intolerant · hasty · demanding · fidgety · antsy
hot-tempered
Prone to quick anger
- short-temperedProne to sudden anger
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
- hot-headedProne to sudden anger
fiery · wrathful · furious · enraged · livid · seething · fuming · indignant · incensed · exasperated
mercurial
Prone to sudden change
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
combustible · unpredictable · capricious · turbulent · tempestuous · erratic · unstable · reactive · impulsive · hair-trigger
- hot-temperedhotheaded, quick-tempered, hair-trigger, fiery, volatile
- on fireablaze, alight, blazing, burning, engulfed
irascibleeven-tempered
Reliably calm disposition
placid · easygoing · patient · unflappable · imperturbable