snappishly
In sharp tones
In a snappish manner—with sharp, irritable speech or tone: She answered snappishly when interrupted.
The word suggests quick, biting remarks that come from impatience or bad temper rather than considered hostility.
Rudely brief in speech
- terselyIn few words
- grumpilyIn an ill-tempered manner
- crankilyIn a peevish way
- peevishlyWith fretful irritation
testily · crossly · grouchily · irascibly · petulantly · waspishly · shrewishly · churlishly
With stinging sharpness
- cuttinglyIn a wounding manner
- causticallyIn a scathing manner
- acerbicallyIn a harsh, biting manner
- tartlyIn a caustic manner
acidly · sarcastically · scathingly · witheringly · stingingly · mordantly · piercingly · venomously
Without gradual transition
- bluntlySpeaking without diplomacy
- curtlyRudely brief in speech
- grufflyIn a rough manner
- roughlyIn approximate terms
unceremoniously · discourteously · rudely · ungraciously · shortly · briskly · coldly · dismissively
Answered in kind
- guardedlyWith protective caution
- bristlingStanding stiffly outward
- combativelyIn a confrontational manner
- hostilelyIn an antagonistic manner
antagonistically · argumentatively · defiantly · resistantly · suspiciously · warily · reactively · protectively
curtly
Rudely brief in speech
peevishly · testily · crossly · grouchily · irascibly · petulantly · waspishly · shrewishly · churlishly · surlily
bitingly
With stinging sharpness
- cuttinglyIn a wounding manner
- causticallyIn a scathing manner
- acerbicallyIn a harsh, biting manner
tartly · acidly · sarcastically · scathingly · witheringly · stingingly · mordantly · piercingly · venomously · harshly
abruptly
Without gradual transition
roughly · unceremoniously · discourteously · rudely · ungraciously · shortly · briskly · coldly · dismissively · impolitely
retorted
Answered in kind
- guardedlyWith protective caution
- bristlingStanding stiffly outward
- combativelyIn a confrontational manner
hostilely · antagonistically · argumentatively · defiantly · resistantly · suspiciously · warily · reactively · protectively · evasively
snappishlygently
In a mild manner
patiently · calmly · softly · mildly · soothingly
snappishlysweetly
In a pleasing way
kindly · warmly · affectionately · lovingly · tenderly
snappishlygood-humoredly
In cheerful, agreeable spirits
cheerfully · tolerantly · forbearingly · indulgently · understandingly