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spikiness

spikiness

7.4
A rude, sharp way of speaking that shows anger or impatience
  • noun
  • /ˈspaɪkɪnəs/
translation icon : agresividad
  • The manager's spikiness during the meeting created an uncomfortable atmosphere among the team.

Examples

  • Apart altogether from McMoran's spikiness, she had never been happy in the department, as later she confessed.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • His constant spikiness made it difficult for anyone to approach him without feeling tense.

  • She often spoke with spikiness, which left her friends unsure of how to respond.

Synonyms

edge
vsspikiness
159 6.7

A sharp quality in someone's voice that shows irritation or tension

is more about a short, prickly manner across speech and behavior
irritability
vsspikiness
8 4.2

Being easily annoyed or quick to become angry

is specifically about a sharp, prickly tone or brusque manner
sharp tongue
vsspikiness
4 6.1

A habit of speaking in a harsh, critical way

is generally shorter and more about irritable manner than focused attacks
sharpness
vsspikiness
1 4.6

A harsh, sudden way of speaking that sounds unfriendly

is more narrowly about quick irritation and a pointed tone
brusqueness
vsspikiness
1 7.9

A short, direct way of speaking that often seems rude

adds an element of sharp irritation and tone beyond bluntness
gruffness
vsspikiness
1 6.6

A rough, unfriendly way of speaking or acting

is usually sharper and more tightly irritable in speech and tone
peevishness
vsspikiness
1 7.3

A tendency to become easily annoyed and impatient

is sharper in expression, giving a prickly, pointed outward tone
acerbity
vsspikiness
1 9.8

A sharp, bitter way of speaking that hurts people

is more about short, irritable manner rather than sustained bitterness
snappishness
vsspikiness
1 8.5

A habit of giving short, angry answers when annoyed

is slightly more about a pointed, prickly tone rather than general irritability
snippiness
vsspikiness
1 7.7

A short, slightly rude way of speaking to someone

is more about an overall sharp, prickly attitude than mere curt replies
causticity
vsspikiness
9.7

Speech or writing that is sharply critical and makes people feel bad

leans more to brief irritability and abrupt manner than sustained sarcasm
acridity
vsspikiness
9.4

A harsh tone in speech or writing that hurts people

is shorter and more about abrupt irritation than ongoing harshness
acridness
vsspikiness
8.4

A sharp, bitter way of speaking that hurts people

is milder, focusing on quick irritability rather than long harshness
pungency
vsspikiness
8.0

Speech or writing that is sharp and often hurts people

is crisper and more about short irritability than clever biting wit
snappiness
vsspikiness
4.4

A person who is easily annoyed and speaks in short, sharp words

is broader, covering overall brusque or prickly manner beyond speech
tetchiness
vsspikiness
  • UK
9.2

A tendency to become easily annoyed and show anger

adds a sharper, pointed tone to that quick annoyance

Antonyms

19 1.3

A kind, calm way of treating people or animals

9 2.7

A state without strong feelings or worry in your mind

How Abrasive

abrasiveness
1 7.0
spikiness
7.4
bluntness
6 4.8
politeness
26 1.3

Surface Forms

spikiness singular
spikinesses plural

Morphology

spikiness = spiky (semi-transparent) = spike + iness

While the derivation from 'spiky' to 'spikiness' is clear, the metaphorical extension to describe a person's manner is not immediately obvious.

Etymology

Spikiness comes from spike ('sharp point') plus -ness ('quality'), and a helpful way to remember it is to picture speech with many small sharp points—short, cutting comments. So, spikiness describes a brusque or easily irritated manner or tone.