snippy
Definition
- Adjective:
- Curthy rude or irritable: "snippy" describes a person or manner that is brusque, impatient, or sharply critical, often in a petty way.
- Fragmented or composed of small pieces: A less common meaning, referring to something made up of scraps or bits.
Usage Examples
- (Her response was curt and slightly rude.)
- (The agent was irritable and short-tempered.)
- (It was composed of small cloth scraps.)
Advanced Usage
"to get snippy with someone": to become irritable or sharply critical toward a person.
- Don’t get snippy with me just because you’re tired. (Do not become rude or irritable toward me.)
"a snippy tone": a manner of speaking that is curt and dismissive.
- His snippy tone suggested he was annoyed. (His brusque way of speaking indicated irritation.)
Variants and Related Words
Snippiness (noun): the quality of being curtly rude or irritable.
- Her snippiness during the meeting was noticeable. (Her irritable behavior was evident.)
Snippy (adjective): can also mean "made of snippets" (small pieces), though this is less common.
- The artist created a collage from snippy paper cuttings. (The collage used small paper scraps.)
Synonyms
- Curt: rudely brief in speech.
- Brusque: blunt and abrupt in manner.
- Snappy: irritable or sharp-tongued.
- Testy: easily annoyed or impatient.
Related Idioms
"Snap at someone": to speak sharply or angrily.
- He snapped at his colleague for a minor mistake. (He spoke sharply and irritably.)
"Short with someone": to be impatient or brusque.
- The boss was short with the intern today. (The boss was curt and dismissive.)
Usage Notes
- "Snippy" is informal and often used in casual conversation or writing to describe mild rudeness or irritability. It is less intense than words like "hostile" or "aggressive."
- The meaning related to "small pieces" is rare in modern English and mostly appears in specialized contexts (e.g., sewing, crafts).