waspish

Examples

• All

• The critic was known for his waspish reviews, often pointing out flaws in a biting manner.

• Mira smiled at him across the dinner table with waspish, pseudo-benevolent forbearance in order to encourage this embarrassment, which appeared to have the effect of warding off, or at least postponing, the monologues.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Don't get waspish with me, mister.

  Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

• ''lf l be waspish, best beware of my sting!''

  Porky's II: The Next Day (1983)

• Does Lindsay Lohan's waspish waistline make us skip meals and induce vomiting just as Mortal Kombat presumably makes us pick up assault rifles and open fire?

  Academic text (2008)

• When her coworker criticized her project, she responded in a waspish tone that surprised everyone.

• His waspish remarks during the meeting made it clear he was unhappy with the new policy.

Synonyms

S

surly

vswaspish

24 7.2

A person who is unfriendly and often angry in a rough or threatening way

is quicker to show sharp, spiteful speech than lasting hostility

P

prickly

vswaspish

13 5.7

Quick to get angry or upset by small things

is more likely to answer sharply and show spite

C

crotchety

vswaspish

6 8.8

Often in a bad mood and easily annoyed by small things

is more likely to show quick, sharp speech than odd mood

S

short-tempered

vswaspish

4 4.2

Quick to get angry or easily annoyed

often shows that anger in sharp speech and spiteful tone

I

ill-tempered

vswaspish

4 5.7

Easily annoyed and quick to get angry

is more about sudden sharp speech and spite rather than grumpiness

C

curmudgeonly

vswaspish

3 9.5

Often bad-tempered and easily annoyed, like a grumpy older person

is quicker to anger and speak sharply rather than grumpy mood

S

snappish

vswaspish

2 7.2

Speaking in a short, angry way because you are annoyed

tends to include more spite or malice beyond abrupt speech

Q

quick-tempered

vswaspish

1 6.0

To become angry quickly and easily

often expresses that anger in biting, spiteful remarks

C

chippy

vswaspish

• UK

1 9.1

Being easily annoyed and quick to feel offended

is more openly spiteful or sharp in speech than defensive

S

splenetic

vswaspish

• Archaic

1 9.9

Easily become angry and say harsh things

focuses more on sharp, spiteful speech than general bad mood

W

witchy

vswaspish

• Offensive

1 7.7

Showing a mean, hurtful way of speaking to others

is similar but often shows faster, sharper irritation

S

snorty

vswaspish

• UK

1 9.7

Feeling annoyed and in a bad mood

is similar but more likely to show clear spite in speech

S

splenitive

vswaspish

• Archaic

1 9.9

Quick to become angry or take offense

often adds sharp, spiteful speech to that quick anger

P

prickish

vswaspish

• Offensive

1 8.9

Being rude and getting upset by small things

is more about sharp, spiteful speech than mere rudeness

W

waspy

vswaspish

8.8

Quick to speak in a rude or angry way that hurts others

shows quick anger across speech and general manner

B

bristly

vswaspish

6.4

Quick to get annoyed and show irritation

is more often sharp and spiteful in tone or speech

H

huffish

vswaspish

9.9

Being bad-tempered and easily offended

is more prone to sharp verbal spite rather than sulking

C

crankish

vswaspish

8.3

Becoming easily annoyed and acting in a bad-tempered way

is more about quick sharp speech than strange behaviour

A

a bit scorpy

vswaspish

• Informal

9.9

Being a little angry and easily annoyed with people

is stronger, showing clearer spite and sharp speech

W

wasplike

vswaspish

6.0

Looking or acting like a wasp

expresses quick anger and spite more directly in speech

Antonyms

C

calm

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

E

easygoing

22 2.6

Being calm and relaxed and not easily upset

Compounds

W

waspish remark

7.7

A short sharp comment that criticizes someone in a hurtful or sarcastic way

How Irritable

furious

238 3.0

angry

∞ 1.0

waspish

1 8.1

irritable

32 3.7

touchy

33 4.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology