snippy
adjective
snip·py ˈsni-pē 
snippier; snippiest
1
: short-tempered, snappish
2
: unduly brief or curt
3
: putting on airs : sniffy
snippily
ˈsni-pə-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- abrupt
- bluff
- blunt
- brusque
- brusk
- crusty
- curt
- downright
- short
- short-spoken
- unceremonious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get snippy with you. snippy remarks about the quality of the food at the church picnic
Recent Examples on the Web In snippy debates and in silent tension, with smidgens of hope and wheelbarrows of doubt, Americans processed the first hearings before the congressional committee investigating last year’s attack on the U.S. Capitol. 
Andrea Eger Canfield, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 McIlroy on Tuesday was everything the sullen and snippy Phil Mickelson was not on Monday at the U.S. Open. Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, 14 June 2022 Francis is portrayed as snippy and effete, but his politics are more uncompromising than Bernie Sanders’. Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2021 Neighborly Dear Neighborly: The popular app Nextdoor has developed something of a reputation as a conveyance for snippy, obnoxious, toxic comments (and worse) between neighbors and about neighborhoods. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 15 Aug. 2021 Neighborly Dear Neighborly: The popular app Nextdoor has developed something of a reputation as a conveyance for snippy, obnoxious, toxic comments (and worse) between neighbors and about neighborhoods. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2021 Neighborly: The popular app Nextdoor has developed something of a reputation as a conveyance for snippy, obnoxious, toxic comments (and worse) between neighbors and about neighborhoods. Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2021 Sam takes to trawling Facebook groups of like-minded wounded women, whose righteous comments and snippy crosstalk are made to sound realistic, and therefore, on the sober page, absurd. Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021 But anyone who’s ever been crushed by a boss’s snippy retort during a meeting or felt humiliated after their manager lost their temper can attest that what seems like a small moment to a leader can feel like a very big deal to the underlings. Sarah Todd, Quartz, 12 May 2021 See More
Andrea Eger Canfield, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 McIlroy on Tuesday was everything the sullen and snippy Phil Mickelson was not on Monday at the U.S. Open. Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, 14 June 2022 Francis is portrayed as snippy and effete, but his politics are more uncompromising than Bernie Sanders’. Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2021 Neighborly Dear Neighborly: The popular app Nextdoor has developed something of a reputation as a conveyance for snippy, obnoxious, toxic comments (and worse) between neighbors and about neighborhoods. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 15 Aug. 2021 Neighborly Dear Neighborly: The popular app Nextdoor has developed something of a reputation as a conveyance for snippy, obnoxious, toxic comments (and worse) between neighbors and about neighborhoods. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2021 Neighborly: The popular app Nextdoor has developed something of a reputation as a conveyance for snippy, obnoxious, toxic comments (and worse) between neighbors and about neighborhoods. Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2021 Sam takes to trawling Facebook groups of like-minded wounded women, whose righteous comments and snippy crosstalk are made to sound realistic, and therefore, on the sober page, absurd. Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021 But anyone who’s ever been crushed by a boss’s snippy retort during a meeting or felt humiliated after their manager lost their temper can attest that what seems like a small moment to a leader can feel like a very big deal to the underlings. Sarah Todd, Quartz, 12 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
snip entry 2
First Known Use
circa 1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1
snippy
adjective
1
as in blunt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner snippy remarks about the quality of the food at the church picnic Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- blunt
- abrupt
- gruff
- short
- curt
- brusque
- rude
- outspoken
- downright
- crusty
- crass
- snappish
- brusk
- unceremonious
- bluff
- honest
- frank
- straightforward
- vulgar
- candid
- short-spoken
- rough
- plain
- tactless
- impolite
- discourteous
- forthright
- direct
- inconsiderate
- terse
- reserved
- disrespectful
- insensitive
- undiplomatic
- brief
- impertinent
- earnest
- laconic
- plainspoken
- open
- coarse
- artless
- sincere
- closemouthed
- reticent
- free-spoken
- uncouth
- straight-out
- tight-lipped
- crude
- foursquare
- point-blank
- low
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- polite
- courteous
- diplomatic
- tactful
- gracious
- circuitous
- civil
- considerate
- talkative
- loquacious
- suave
- smooth
- mealymouthed
- voluble
- politic
- verbose
- prolix
- long-winded
- genteel
- polished
- gallant
- courtly
- cultivated
- refined
2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed feeling snippy after a long day of work Synonyms & Similar Words
- irritable
- snappish
- fiery
- snarky
- peevish
- testy
- petulant
- grouchy
- grumpy
- crabby
- irascible
- crotchety
- waspish
- pettish
- cranky
- cross
- snippety
- raspy
- short-tempered
- choleric
- passionate
- stuffy
- sensitive
- snarly
- short
- ornery
- cantankerous
- prickly
- querulous
- snappy
- curmudgeonly
- argumentative
- quick-tempered
- surly
- contentious
- ratty
- belligerent
- disagreeable
- perverse
- combative
- pugnacious
- out of humor
- tetchy
- fretful
- bellicose
- bilious
- huffy
- out of sorts
- dyspeptic
- sulky
- ill-tempered
- pouty
- truculent
- quarrelsome
- sullen
- ill-humored
- ill-natured
- fractious
- off-colored
- scrappy
- disputatious
- bearish
- touchy
- off-color
- cross-grained
- thin-skinned
- hot-blooded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- friendly
- cordial
- affable
- amiable
- gregarious
- sweet
- outgoing
- genial
- agreeable
- companionable
- sociable
- extroverted
- extraverted
- easygoing
- good-natured
- carefree
- good-tempered
- relaxed
- patient
- tolerant
- stoical
- stoic
- forbearing
- well-disposed
- obliging
- uncomplaining
- happy-go-lucky
- understanding
- long-suffering
3
as in arrogant
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance I get tired of his snippy insistence that emulating the rich and famous is the only way to appear successful Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogant
- pretentious
- smug
- pompous
- proud
- grandiose
- ostentatious
- uppity
- affected
- highfalutin
- la-de-da
- rude
- supercilious
- la-di-da
- cavalier
- lah-di-dah
- bumptious
- hifalutin
- lah-dee-dah
- conceited
- snobby
- sententious
- snobbish
- lah-de-dah
- haughty
- high-minded
- aggressive
- assertive
- disdainful
- presumptuous
- grandiloquent
- imperious
- confident
- prideful
- vainglorious
- complacent
- vain
- egotistic
- boastful
- cocky
- insolent
- cheeky
- impudent
- egoistic
- self-important
- high-and-mighty
- important
- egotistical
- brassy
- self-centered
- braggart
- high-handed
- self-dramatizing
- self-satisfied
- hoity-toity
- bragging
- egoistical
- sure
- stuck-up
- self-obsessed
- self-aggrandizing
- showy
- self-conceited
- overweening
- flamboyant
- high-toned
- self-assertive
- superior
- self-complacent
- airy
- self-promoting
- high-flown
- gaudy
- self-glorifying
- audacious
- flashy
- garish
- self-assured
- high-hat
- self-pleased
- glitzy
- high-sounding
- bold
- lordly
- self-asserting
- flaunting
- self-confident
- splashy
- forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- unpretentious
- humble
- meek
- unassertive
- demure
- timid
- lowly
- unassuming
- bashful
- homely
- passive
- diffident
- quiet
- shy
- mousy
- retiring
- reserved
- down-to-earth
- mousey
- overmodest
- diphtheroid
- diphtheroids
- diphthong
- diphthongal
- diphthonged
- diphthongic
- diphthonging
- diphthongisation
- diphthongisations
- diphthongise
- diphthongised
- diphthongises
- diphthongising
- diphthongization
- diphthongizations
- diphthongize
- diphthongized
- diphthongizes
- diphthongizing
- diphthongs
- diphy-
- diphycercal
- diphycercy
- Diphyes
- diphygenic