adjective
snippy
SNIH-pee
Snippy (adjective) means Short-tempered and curt, especially in a slightly condescending way. Example: “She got a bit snippy when I asked her to repeat herself.”
adjective
1
Short-tempered and curt, especially in a slightly condescending way.
"She got a bit snippy when I asked her to repeat herself."
How to use snippy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSharp and irritable in the way you speak to someone.
Common pairings
get snippy
a snippy reply
sound snippy
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Word forms
- Comparative
- snippier
- Superlative
- snippiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She got a bit _____ when I asked her to repeat herself.
Etymology
Formed from snip and -y. Compare Saterland Frisian snippig, snippich (“short, brief, blunt”), Dutch snippig (“snippy, shrill”), German Low German snippig (“snippy, snappy”) and German schnippisch (“snippy, snappy”).
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for snippy
See all rhymes for snippy →Frequently asked questions
What does “snippy” mean?
The word “snippy” means short-tempered and curt, especially in a slightly condescending way. In plain terms, sharp and irritable in the way you speak to someone.
How do you pronounce “snippy”?
“Snippy” is pronounced SNIH-pee (/ˈsnɪpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “snippy” in a sentence?
Here is “snippy” used in a sentence: “She got a bit snippy when I asked her to repeat herself.”
What part of speech is “snippy”?
“Snippy” is an adjective.
