hot-tempered

USAGE SUMMARY

'hot-tempered' is a correct and commonly used word in written English.
It describes someone who has a tendency to become easily angry or agitated. Example: The new boss was known for being hot-tempered, and many employees feared his outbursts.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

How do we temper these "rifled" barbs and hot-tempered outbursts?

Huffington Post

Cuomo is famously hot-tempered.

The New York Times - Magazine

Drivers are more hot-tempered.

The New York Times

We were both hot-tempered people".

The New York Times

One is hot-tempered; one likes the ladies too much.

The New Yorker

Employees describe Blavatnik as forbidding, distrustful, and hot-tempered.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mr. Acosta, hot tempered in his acting, added new steps, including complex twists in the air.

The New York Times - Arts

Nishat Ahmad, a retired general who seems to support the coup, calls him "a little hot tempered and impetuous.

The Economist

The followers also include hot tempered fanatics.

Huffington Post

Despite its shortcomings, I love this hot tempered city.

Vice

She is, in fact, kaleidoscopic, they say: humorous, emotional, hot tempered, compassionate.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "hot-tempered", provide context or examples of their behavior to give the reader a clearer understanding of their personality. For example, 'Despite his many talents, the artist was known for his "hot-tempered" outbursts during rehearsals.'

Common error

Avoid using "hot-tempered" in formal or academic writing unless it's directly relevant to the analysis. More nuanced terms like "irascible" or "choleric" might be more appropriate for scholarly contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hot-tempered" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that the person or thing described has a tendency to become easily angered or agitated. Ludwig examples show this being used to characterize people, atmospheres, and even abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hot-tempered" is a descriptive adjective commonly used to describe someone who is easily angered or agitated. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide acceptance. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, used to quickly convey a person's disposition. While the phrase is generally considered neutral in formality, more formal alternatives like "irascible" or "choleric" may be preferred in academic settings. Ludwig examples offer valuable insights into how this term is applied in real-world scenarios, highlighting its role in conveying personality traits and potential reactions. Remember to provide context when using "hot-tempered" to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quick-tempered

This phrase highlights the speed with which someone becomes angry.

short-tempered

Similar to quick-tempered, but emphasizes a low threshold for anger.

irascible

This term emphasizes a proneness to anger and irritability.

choleric

This word suggests a disposition that is easily moved to anger.

easily provoked

This phrase indicates a tendency to be angered by relatively minor things.

testy

This describes someone easily irritated and impatient.

irritable

This term describes a general state of being easily annoyed or angered.

volatile

This word suggests a tendency to unpredictable and potentially angry outbursts.

fiery

This term indicates a passionate and potentially angry nature.

cantankerous

This suggests a bad-tempered and argumentative personality.

FAQs

How can I use "hot-tempered" in a sentence?

You can use "hot-tempered" to describe someone who gets angry easily. For example, "He was a "hot-tempered" man who often lost his cool during arguments."

What are some synonyms for "hot-tempered"?

Some synonyms for "hot-tempered" include "quick-tempered", "short-tempered", "irascible", and "choleric".

Is it correct to use "hot tempered" (two words) instead of "hot-tempered" (hyphenated)?

While "hot tempered" might be understood, "hot-tempered" is the correct and more widely accepted hyphenated form when used as a compound adjective.

What's the difference between "hot-tempered" and "passionate"?

"Hot-tempered" implies a tendency to become angry or agitated, whereas "passionate" suggests strong feelings or enthusiasm. A passionate person might be "hot-tempered", but not always. Passion can fuel both positive and negative expressions, but "hot-tempered" leans more towards negative connotations.