irascible

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ms. Jackson is no apologist—her James has flaws aplenty—but where prior historians offered snide caricature, she portrays a complex leader who was “intelligent, resilient, idiosyncratic, irascible, guileful and witty.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Verity, an irascible but hugely successful aging Hollywood star, alternates narration with his younger best friend Helen in a story involving an aspiring scriptwriter named Phoebe.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

"We love him. He was intrepid, he was funny, he was gruff, he was irascible, he was beautiful."

From BBC • May 5, 2024

The club identifies, correctly, as a titan, and — under Pérez’s stewardship, in particular — it has taken great pride in living the values associated with the classical definition of that term: impetuous, impulsive, irascible.

From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2024

This did not suit Jo at all, but she accepted the place since nothing better appeared and, to every one’s surprise, got on remarkably well with her irascible relative.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott