waspish
Quick to sting
Waspish describes a sharp, irritable temperament—someone quick to sting with cutting remarks.
A waspish tone or waspish reply carries petty hostility: She gave a waspish retort when questioned about her methods.
The word can also describe a thin, pinched waist, though this sense is uncommon.
Short-tempered, easily provoked
- snappishShort-tempered, biting
- peevishHabitually fretful
- tetchyEasily provoked to irritation
- irascibleProne to outbursts
cross · short-tempered · prickly · cantankerous · querulous · fractious · choleric · splenetic
Harshly critical or cold
- sardonicGrimly mocking
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- tartSharp-flavored small pie
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
barbed · snarky · sarcastic · mordant · vitriolic · acrimonious · satirical · venomous
Venom-injecting body part
- venomInjected animal poison
- yellowjacketStinging insect with bands
- hornetLarge aggressive wasp
- nestAnimal-built shelter for young
testy
Short-tempered, easily provoked
irascible · cross · short-tempered · prickly · cantankerous · querulous · fractious · choleric · splenetic · touchy
biting
Harshly critical or cold
cutting · barbed · snarky · sarcastic · mordant · vitriolic · acrimonious · satirical · venomous · sharp-tongued
stinger
Venom-injecting body part
- venomInjected animal poison
- yellowjacketStinging insect with bands
- hornetLarge aggressive wasp
nest · swarm · buzzing · striped · sting · hive · drone · colony
slender
Thin and graceful
corseted · hourglass · svelte · constricted · nipped · tapered
- animal-likeapish, apelike, avian, beastly, birdlike
- irritabilitycranky, grouchy, grumpy, irritated, annoyed
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
waspisheasygoing
Relaxed in temperament
placid · good-tempered · patient · mellow · even-tempered