Definition

Easily angered or prone to getting angry quickly.

Example

His irascible nature made it difficult for him to keep friends.

Conversation

Did you hear about Mark? He's been really irascible lately.

Yeah, I noticed. He gets upset over the smallest things now.

I wonder what’s causing him to be so irascible all of a sudden.

Maybe he’s stressed out; we should check in on him.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Irascible → It is formed from "irascibilis" (from Latin, meaning easily provoked to anger) which comes from "irasci" (meaning to be angry) and the suffix "-ble" (meaning capable of). The word describes someone who is capable of becoming angry easily.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'capable of being angry' — 'irasci' means to be angry, and '-ble' means capable. This helps you remember that 'irascible' refers to a person who easily gets angry.

Visually Confused Words