Snappishly

Snappishly describes a manner or tone of speaking or behaving that is characterized by sudden irritability, sharpness, and sometimes rudeness. It implies a quick, almost biting response, often triggered by frustration, annoyance, or impatience. The word suggests a lack of consideration for others' feelings, and a tendency to lash out verbally or through curt actions. The tone can range from mildly irritated to openly hostile. A person behaving snappishly might use sharp words, exhibit a curt demeanor, or give abrupt answers. It paints a picture of someone struggling to maintain composure, often reacting defensively or aggressively, rather than thoughtfully or calmly. The underlying emotional state is typically one of tension or suppressed anger, which manifests as this sharp and often unwelcoming behaviour.

Snappishly meaning with examples

• When asked about the delays, the project manager responded snappishly, "Well, if you'd bothered to read the emails, you'd know!" Her tone revealed her frustration with the repeated inquiries, immediately creating a tense atmosphere among the team members. Her blunt reply did not help to solve the issue, and created conflict.
• The child, tired and hungry, answered his mother snappishly when she asked him to clear the table. "I'm too tired! You do it!" His abruptness and harsh tone made his mom instantly cross. He was not considerate, as his irritability took over and overpowered his normal manners. This behaviour made his mom's tone change as well.
• The customer service representative, overwhelmed by the volume of calls, replied snappishly to a simple question. "We're closed! The sign says it!" Her sharp retort was completely uncalled for, especially considering the customer was unaware of the store hours. This behaviour, unsuited to a customer facing role, could lose the company a sale.
• Having lost the game, the tennis player answered the reporter's questions snappishly, offering terse, one-word answers. "It was terrible." "I don't know." "I just didn't play well." His curt replies expressed his obvious disappointment, but also showed bad sportsmanship and a disregard for social expectations.
• The teacher, already stressed from grading papers, responded snappishly when a student asked for help with an easy assignment. "Did you even try before bothering me?!" Her sharp, impatient words discouraged the student from asking for help, furthering the educational issue at hand and further hindering the student's understanding.