🏛️ WASP-like traits 😠 Easily irritated 🐝 Wasp-like shape

waspy

8.8

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

adjective
/ˈwɑːspi/

: mordaz

The teacher's waspy response surprised the students, who expected a gentler reply.

Examples

Don't be so waspy!
He can be quite waspy when he is tired or stressed after work.
Her waspy comments made the meeting tense and uncomfortable for everyone.
She is waspy today.
After he lost the game, his waspy comments made it clear he was not happy.
She can be quite waspy when things don't go her way, often snapping at those around her.
His waspy remarks left a tense atmosphere in the room, as everyone felt his irritation.

Synonyms

cranky

vswaspy

117 4.2

Easily annoyed and upset when tired or hungry

involves more purposeful spite and biting speech than mere fuss

bitchy

vswaspy

Offensive

34 8.1

Saying or doing mean things that hurt people in small ways

includes that meanness but also quick general irritation

surly

vswaspy

24 7.2

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

is more about spiteful sharp speech rather than simply hostile tone

prickly

vswaspy

13 5.7

Quick to get angry or upset by small things

is more openly spiteful and sharp tongued than mere sensitivity

cantankerous

vswaspy

9 8.6

Gets angry easily and often argues with people

is more sharp tongued and spiteful than just argumentative anger

crotchety

vswaspy

6 8.8

Often in a bad mood and easily annoyed by small things

includes sharper spiteful remarks rather than odd grumpiness

short-tempered

vswaspy

4 4.2

Quick to get angry or easily annoyed

also includes sharp spiteful remarks, not only quick anger

ill-tempered

vswaspy

4 5.7

Easily annoyed and quick to get angry

adds cutting speech and deliberate spite to simple grumpiness

curmudgeonly

vswaspy

3 9.5

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

is generally sharper and more spiteful in speech than mere gruffness

bad-tempered

vswaspy

3 3.5

Quick to get angry or annoyed

is more about sharp tongue and spite, not only annoyance

quick-tempered

vswaspy

1 6.0

To become angry quickly and easily

emphasizes spiteful cutting speech as well as fast anger

choleric

vswaspy

1 9.6

Quick to become angry and often bad-tempered

is more about sharp tongued spite rather than only swift anger

chippy

vswaspy

1 9.1

Being easily annoyed and quick to feel offended

focuses more on sharp spiteful remarks rather than defensive pride

waspish

vswaspy

1 8.1

Easily annoyed and quick to speak sharply

focuses on lasting spiteful temperament rather than occasional speech

witchy

vswaspy

Offensive

1 7.7

Showing a mean, hurtful way of speaking to others

is similar but stresses general irritability and sharp temper

splenetic

vswaspy

Archaic

1 9.9

Easily become angry and say harsh things

adds a sharp spiteful speech quality beyond mere bad temper

stroppy

vswaspy

1 9.8

Easily annoyed and likely to argue or be unhelpful

leans more toward spiteful sharp speech than general difficult mood

snorty

vswaspy

1 9.7

Feeling annoyed and in a bad mood

is more about sharp spite in speech, not just grumpy tone

splenitive

vswaspy

Archaic

1 9.9

Quick to become angry or take offense

is more about lasting spiteful manner rather than sudden anger

prickish

vswaspy

Offensive

1 8.9

Being rude and getting upset by small things

is more about sharp spiteful manner than just rude irritation

venomous-tongued

vswaspy

Literature

9.4

Saying harsh, mean things that hurt people

includes general irritability and spite beyond just harsh words

tonguey

vswaspy

Informal

8.9

Quick to say sharp things that hurt

is broader, also involving mean manner not only sharp remarks

vinegary

vswaspy

7.6

Having a sour, unfriendly tone or manner

shows more active spite and sharpness in speech than sourness

crankish

vswaspy

8.3

Becoming easily annoyed and acting in a bad-tempered way

adds mean or spiteful speech beyond eccentric irritability

crabbit

vswaspy

9.9

Having a bad temper and getting annoyed easily

adds mean sharp remarks and spite beyond regional grumpiness

wasplike

vswaspy

6.0

Looking or acting like a wasp

is more about being spiteful and sharp tongued, not only stinging look

a bit scorpy

vswaspy

Informal

9.9

Being a little angry and easily annoyed with people

is stronger, more openly spiteful and sharply critical in manner

huffish

vswaspy

9.9

Being bad-tempered and easily offended

is more about sharp spite and biting speech than sulky mood

Antonyms

calm

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

gentle

235 1.0

Kind and not strong in action, sound, or touch

Compounds

non-WASPy root

9.9

A family background from a culture that is not White Protestant

How Irritable

venomous

6 6.3

spiteful

23 5.1

waspy

8.8

irritable

32 3.7

touchy

33 4.9

Surface Forms

waspy positive

Morphology

waspy = wasp (semi-transparent) = wasp + y

The adjective is metaphorically derived from the insect ('stinging' temperament), so learners may need some cultural/figurative knowledge to link 'wasp' to 'easily irritated'.

Etymology

Waspy comes from the insect wasp, known for its sharp 'sting', so it gives a picture of something quick and painful. That's why a waspy person is someone who makes sharp, easily angry or spiteful remarks.