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tetchily

tetchily

9.9
In an easily annoyed way
  • adverb
  • /ˈtɛtʃɪli/
  • UK
translation icon : irritablemente
  • I'm afraid I responded more tetchily in general than Byatt does to other aspects of the Bowen world, though these unnerve me now a good deal less than they once did.

Examples

  • Hermas tetchily stops him.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • She replied tetchily when I asked her about the schedule change.

  • He tends to act tetchily when he hasn't had enough sleep.

  • The teacher spoke tetchily after the students interrupted her lesson.

Synonyms

irritably
vstetchily
8 4.1

In an annoyed or impatient way

is more about being sensitive to offence rather than plain impatience
petulantly
vstetchily
2 8.1

In a childish, annoyed way that shows impatience

is less childish and focuses more on quick sensitivity to offence
testily
vstetchily
1 7.6

In a short angry way that shows you are annoyed

is less childish and instead highlights sensitivity to slight offence
peevishly
vstetchily
1 8.1

In an annoyed, grumpy way

is more about being easily offended than showing childish sulking
grumpily
vstetchily
1 3.0

In a bad mood and speaking or acting in an unhappy way

is quicker to react to small slights rather than being in a persistent bad mood
sulkily
vstetchily
1 7.5

By being quiet and not joining others to show someone is annoyed

is more about being easily offended and outwardly prickly rather than silent withdrawal
huffily
vstetchily
1 7.8

To act in an annoyed or offended way

is more about being easily upset by slight offence rather than loud indignation
touchily
vstetchily
8.1

In a way that gets upset or angry very easily

is more about quick irritation rather than sensitivity to offence
waspishly
vstetchily
8.4

In an angry, sharp way that shows someone is annoyed

is less sharp and more about being easily annoyed or sensitive to offence
irascibly
vstetchily
  • Formal
9.1

In an angry way that shows someone gets annoyed easily

is more about sensitivity to offence and quick annoyance rather than anger
snippily
vstetchily
7.7

In a short, sharp way that shows annoyance

is less about curt tone and more about being easily offended
huffingly
vstetchily
7.7

In an annoyed way that shows irritation or anger

is more about quick hurt feelings rather than proud indignation
crankily
vstetchily
6.0

In a bad-tempered, easily annoyed way

is more about steady bad temper than being easily offended by remarks
grouchily
vstetchily
5.8

In a bad mood and complaining

is more about quick sensitivity to slight remarks rather than a general bad mood
crabbily
vstetchily
7.0

In a bad mood and easily annoyed

is more about being easily offended by small things rather than general irritability
cantankerously
vstetchily
9.1

In a grumpy way that argues with others or refuses to cooperate

is more about arguing and stubbornness than sensitivity to slight offence
surlily
vstetchily
9.9

In a rude, unfriendly way

is less openly rude and more about being easily offended by remarks
biliously
vstetchily
  • Literature
9.5

In an angry and unpleasant way that shows annoyance

is more about quick sensitivity to small insults rather than an unpleasant sick mood

Antonyms

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

75 1.9

In a calm way without getting angry while waiting

How Irritable

irascibly
  • Formal
9.1
testily
1 7.6
irritably
8 4.1
tetchily
  • UK
9.9
touchily
8.1
calmly
110 1.0

Surface Forms

tetchily positive

Morphology

tetchily = tetchy (transparent) = tetchy + ly

Standard adverbial formation from the adjective 'tetchy' using the productive suffix '-ly', so the manner is directly derived.

Etymology

Tetchily comes from tetchy, a word meaning 'easily annoyed' and is like the common word touchy. Think of someone who reacts if you 'touch' them even a little, so to act tetchily is to be easily annoyed and quick to react.