ill-tempered

adjective

ill-tem·​pered ˈil-ˈtem-pərd How to pronounce ill-tempered (audio)
ill-temperedly adverb

Examples of ill-tempered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If the person in charge is ill-tempered, thrives on conflict, and easily persuaded, problems are made worse. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 27 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ill-tempered.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ill-tempered was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near ill-tempered

Cite this Entry

“Ill-tempered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill-tempered. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ill-tempered

adjective
ill-tem·​pered
ˈil-ˈtem-pərd
: having or showing a bad temper : ill-natured
an ill-tempered neighbor
wrote an ill-tempered reply
ill-temperedly adverb
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