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waspishly

waspishly

8.4
In an angry, sharp way that shows someone is annoyed
  • adverb
  • /ˈwæspɪʃli/
translation icon : irritablemente
  • On May 20, for example, he wrote Sensier a bit waspishly that much as he liked his reviews, they could be improved if Sensier would spend more time on them.
  • said waspishly

That show didn't go well, as one critic waspishly mused.

Examples

  • That show didn't go well, as one critic waspishly mused.

  • I didn't want to wake him. "Good of you," I said waspishly.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • "We don't need your apologies—just get off about your business!" James said waspishly.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • One official waspishly noted that European membership on the Dar es Salaam board "seems to consist chiefly of ladies who regard it as a fashionable occupation which enables them to see a large number of films for free, even if not at all."

    Academic text (2005)
  • "You're always late for meetings," she remarked waspishly, making it clear she was annoyed.

  • "Do you really think that will work?" he asked waspishly, unable to hide his skepticism.

  • After hearing the same excuses repeatedly, she responded waspishly, "I've heard this story before."

Synonyms

sharply
vswaspishly
44 2.8

In a harsh, angry way when speaking to someone

is similarly sharp but with more quick irritation
offensively
vswaspishly
  • Offensive
15 4.5

In a rude or unpleasant way that upsets people

is more briefly irritable and biting, not necessarily offensive
irritably
vswaspishly
8 4.1

In an annoyed or impatient way

is sharper and quick to show biting words
obnoxiously
vswaspishly
6 6.4

In a way that annoys and upsets other people

is more sharply cutting rather than broadly offensive
gruffly
vswaspishly
3 6.3

Talk in a rough, unfriendly way

is sharper and more cutting in attitude than mere abruptness
virulently
vswaspishly
3 8.7

In an angry and hurtful way

is more brief and sharp annoyance rather than harmful hostility
nastily
vswaspishly
2 5.1

In an unpleasant, angry, or mean way

is sharper and quicker, not always openly spiteful
peevishly
vswaspishly
1 8.1

In an annoyed, grumpy way

is sharper and more abrupt in tone than petty annoyance
acidly
vswaspishly
1 5.1

In a sharp, rude way that shows sarcasm

is more about quick annoyance than planned sarcasm
sneeringly
vswaspishly
1 8.1

In a way that shows you do not respect someone or something

is more about sharp irritation than direct contempt
venomously
vswaspishly
  • Formal
1 8.2

Saying or doing things with very strong anger and hate toward someone

is less about deep malice and more about quick irritation
irately
vswaspishly
1 6.8

In an angry way

is more about quick sharp annoyance than full anger
acerbically
vswaspishly
1 8.1

In a sharp, hurtful way when criticizing someone

is similar but focuses more on sudden irritability than critique
caustically
vswaspishly
1 8.2

In a sharply critical way that can hurt someone's feelings

is more about short, irritable barbs than severe critique
cattily
vswaspishly
1 8.9

Says things in a mean, slightly cruel way to hurt someone

is more about quick irritable bite than planned nastiness
irritatedly
vswaspishly
3.9

In an annoyed and impatient way

is sharper and more stinging than plain annoyance
tetchily
vswaspishly
  • UK
9.9

In an easily annoyed way

is more sharply cutting rather than merely touchy
irascibly
vswaspishly
  • Formal
9.1

In an angry way that shows someone gets annoyed easily

is more sharply sarcastic than simply quick anger
snappily
vswaspishly
5.9

In a short, angry way

is similarly sharp but often more cutting and stinging
snippily
vswaspishly
7.7

In a short, sharp way that shows annoyance

is more cutting and quick to show sarcasm
crankily
vswaspishly
6.0

In a bad-tempered, easily annoyed way

is sharper and quicker to give sarcastic remarks
crabbily
vswaspishly
7.0

In a bad mood and easily annoyed

is snappier and more cutting than mere grouchiness
grouchily
vswaspishly
5.8

In a bad mood and complaining

is quicker and more sharply sarcastic than grumpy mood
biliously
vswaspishly
  • Literature
9.5

In an angry and unpleasant way that shows annoyance

is more sharply biting in tone rather than sickly mood
huffingly
vswaspishly
7.7

In an annoyed way that shows irritation or anger

is more sharply sarcastic rather than loud frustration
pettishly
vswaspishly
8.6

In a childish bad-tempered way about small things

is less childish and more sharply sarcastic in tone
acridly
vswaspishly
8.2

In a sharp, bitter way that hurts people with words

is more about sudden irritation than sustained bitterness
abrasively
vswaspishly
6.5

In a harsh, rude way that upsets people when speaking or acting

is less about roughness and more about quick sharp annoyance
stingingly
vswaspishly
7.7

In a sharply critical way that hurts someone's feelings

is more short and irritable rather than deeply scathing
vexatiously
vswaspishly
9.3

In a way that annoys or worries other people, often on purpose

is about quick sharp irritation rather than causing long trouble
surlily
vswaspishly
9.9

In a rude, unfriendly way

is more sharply irritable and often sarcastic rather than simply rude
snottily
vswaspishly
  • Informal
8.8

In a rude way that shows someone thinks they are better than others

is more about quick irritated bite than full arrogance
doggishly
vswaspishly
9.3

In a rude, mean way that makes others uncomfortable

is quicker and more sharply annoyed rather than broadly mean
meanspiritedly
vswaspishly
  • Offensive
8.5

In a mean way that tries to hurt someone

is more about brief sharp irritation than deliberate spite
bitchily
vswaspishly
  • Offensive
9.9

In a mean, unkind way that aims to hurt someone

is more sudden and sharply annoyed than intentionally hurtful

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

bitingly
1 7.4
waspishly
8.4
testily
1 7.6
irritably
8 4.1

Surface Forms

waspishly positive
waspisherly comparative
waspishliest superlative

Morphology

waspishly = waspish (semi-transparent) = wasp + ish + ly

The adverb is clearly derived from the adjective 'waspish', indicating manner.

Etymology

Waspishly comes from wasp and the endings -ish and -ly, where -ish means 'like' and -ly makes a word an adverb. A wasp is an insect that can 'sting' and seems quick to anger, so to act waspishly is to speak in a sharp, easily annoyed way.