waspish Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite very irritable
bristly; prickly; splenetic.
- bristly exchanges between the White House and the press
- he became prickly and spiteful
- witty and waspish about his colleagues

Resembling a wasp in form; having a slender waist, like a wasp.
Quick to resent a trifling affront; characterized by snappishness; irritable; irascible; petulant; snappish.
He was naturally a waspish and hot man. Bp. Hall.

Much do I suffer, much, to keep in peace This jealous, waspish, wrong-head, rhyming race. Pope.
Syn. -- Snappish; petulant; irritable; irascible; testy; peevish; captious. -- Wasp"ish*ly, adv. -- Wasp"ish*ness, n.