HOT-TEMPERED Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

hot-tempered

adjective

Definition of hot-tempered

as in antagonistic

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hot-tempered In addition, teens who are dealing with intense emotions that are hard to cope with are often hot-tempered and easily irritated. — Staff Author, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026 What is the strategy for living with someone who is exceedingly hot-tempered? — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025 The movie co-stars Albert Finney as an acclaimed and hot-tempered writer named George and Keaton as Faith, the wife and mother of his children, who gave up her own dreams to support him, only to get thrown over for a younger woman (Karen Allen). — Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2025 Robbie is a complicated man, at once incredibly compassionate and deeply self-centered, philosophical and brooding but also impulsive and hot-tempered. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hot-tempered

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot-tempered

Adjective

To MacArthur, solitary reading was antagonistic to the Army’s aims.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Related Stories Additionally, Flanagan was interested in recruiting Sloyan to play Carrie’s religious and antagonistic mother, Margaret White, unforgettably played by Piper Laurie in the film.

— William Earl, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of antagonistic

Adjective

That night, Lee goes to Ginger’s house to tell her what happened — about his hostile showdown with the rupidoop, about Brawny Dude With the Butter Candies checking out Lee’s van in the Boontill parking lot.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The trip to Leeds is another daunting assignment for United in what is usually a hostile atmosphere.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

There was already a tense relationship between the sides off the pitch and a feisty one on it, with both competing for honours over the last few years.

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Sexy and thrilling, the Alfred Hitchcock classic benefited from Saint and Grant’s feisty rapport.

— Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of feisty

Adjective

The measure would prohibit the government from joining sanctions against any belligerent country except sanctions approved by the United Nations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Relatives said Billini had even asked the building’s management to move her to another apartment to get her away from her belligerent neighbor.

— Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of belligerent

Adjective

Hilton cuts a colorful and pugnacious figure on the campaign trail.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
In 2005, the Cage was opened by Ross (the Boss) Friedman, a founding member of the pugnacious and seminal punk band the Dictators, stalwarts of the early CBGB scene.

— Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of pugnacious

Adjective

The former state representative and senator from west-central Missouri took office as secretary of state in January 2025 and brought a more combative approach to overseeing elections and ballot measures.

— Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 15 Oct. 2026
No other details were provided, and since that announcement, the CAC and its membership have found themselves on opposite sides of an increasingly combative divide.

— Adam B. Vary, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of combative

Adjective

Volatile, quarrelsome, dogmatic, and sure of his own brilliance, Reinhold outraged patrons, amassed huge debts, and turned his eldest son into an exhausted workhorse.

— Jenny Uglow, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
The toys, like the perpetually quarrelsome Woody and Buzz or Jessie the cowgirl, who now takes center stage, have seen their boy and girl owners grow up and leave them behind.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 June 2026

Definition of quarrelsome

Adjective

Nor was she put off by his more confrontational appearances on Fox News.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
The candidate forum, held on Thursday night in Woodland and moderated by League of Women Voters of Yolo County, was a more confrontational showdown than their debate just one day earlier.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of confrontational

Browse Nearby Words

hotted (up)

hot-tempered

hot ticket

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“Hot-tempered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot-tempered. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hot-tempered

adjective

Example Sentences

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