irascible

This term describes a personality trait characterized by a hair-trigger temper. It suggests a chronic state of irritability where the person is perpetually on the edge of an outburst, often regardless of the provocation's severity. It carries a slightly clinical or formal tone compared to words like grumpy or cranky. While a grumpy person might just be in a bad mood, an irascible person possesses a volatile temperament as a defining characteristic. It often evokes the image of someone whose anger is sudden, sharp, and difficult to soothe, making them formidable or intimidating in social interactions.