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Meaning & use

snippy

adjective·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˈsnɪpi/
US/ˈsnɪpi/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableinformal

    Speaking in a short, sharp and slightly rude way because you are irritated or impatient.

    Grammar: Goes before a noun or after be, get or sound: a snippy reply, she got snippy.

    Patterns

    • snippy with someone
    • get snippy

    He was snippy with the waiter after a long wait.

    Don't get snippy with me; I'm only asking a question.

    Her snippy reply made the whole room go quiet.

  2. adjectivecomparableinformaldisapproving

    Tending to criticize in small, cutting remarks, often to make someone feel foolish.

    Grammar: Describes a person's usual manner or a particular remark: a snippy comment.

    Patterns

    • a snippy remark about something

    The reviewer left a snippy comment about the food.

    Their snippy emails made the project tense.

Word forms

comparativesnippier
superlativesnippiest

Common combinations

snippy remark
A snippy remark about his hair ruined his mood.
snippy tone
She answered in a snippy tone.
get snippy
People tend to get snippy when they are tired.
snippy comment
He regretted his snippy comment right away.
snippy with someone
The clerk was snippy with every customer.

Synonyms and how they differ

curt
Curt means short and abrupt, but it need not show irritation, which snippy does.
testy
Testy points to a short temper and is a bit more formal than snippy.
sharp
Sharp can be harsher and more cutting, whereas snippy suggests petty irritation.
tetchy
Tetchy is mainly British and suggests being easily annoyed over small things.

Opposites

pleasantgood-natured

Word family

snip verb
to cut with small quick strokes, which gave the sense of cutting remarks
snippiness noun
the quality of being snippy
snippily adverb
in a sharp, irritated way
snappy adjective
quick or lively, and sometimes sharp-tongued

Commonly confused: snippy or snappy? snippy or snippet?

snippy vs snappy

Snappy usually means brisk or stylish, as in a snappy reply, though it can also mean bad-tempered; snippy always points to irritated rudeness.

snippy vs snippet

A snippet is a small piece of something, such as a clip of text.

Practice

Maya was tired and hungry, so she gave a snippy answer. What does that tell us?

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