waspishly
In sharp tones
Waspishly means in a sharp, irritable, or spiteful manner—suggesting the quick sting of a wasp.
Someone who responds waspishly speaks with biting impatience or ill temper: She waspishly dismissed his suggestion as naive.
The word carries connotations of petty malice rather than sustained anger.
Sharp and biting
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- trenchantSharply perceptive and direct
vitriolic · acidic · mordant · incisive · barbed · biting · stinging · piercing
Short-tempered, biting
- testyShort-tempered, easily provoked
- peevishHabitually fretful
- irascibleProne to outbursts
- grouchyEasily annoyed, ill-tempered
querulous · touchy · tetchy · fractious · cantankerous · cross · short-tempered · curt
Grimly mocking
- cynicalDoubting human goodness
- derisiveExpressing contemptuous ridicule
- sarcasticMockingly insincere in tone
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
snide · taunting · contemptuous · disparaging · scornful · ridiculing · scoffing · jeering
acerbic
Sharp and biting
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
trenchant · vitriolic · acidic · mordant · incisive · barbed · biting · stinging · piercing · harsh
snappish
Short-tempered, biting
grouchy · querulous · touchy · tetchy · fractious · cantankerous · cross · short-tempered · curt · brusque
sardonic
Grimly mocking
- cynicalDoubting human goodness
- derisiveExpressing contemptuous ridicule
- sarcasticMockingly insincere in tone
sneering · snide · taunting · contemptuous · disparaging · scornful · ridiculing · scoffing · jeering · disdainful