What does stroppier mean?
“Stroppier” is the comparative form of the informal adjective “stroppy,” meaning more annoyed, angry, or bad-tempered. It is used especially in British, Australian, and New Zealand English to describe someone whose temper has worsened: a child may become stroppier after being kept waiting, while a customer may demand a manager after receiving bad service. The word is typically conversational and mildly disparaging rather than formal or neutral. Although it can describe a person who is simply cross, it may also suggest repeated irritation, impatience, or an exaggerated response to a minor inconvenience. In ordinary dialogue, “angrier” is the most familiar substitute, while “stroppier” gives the description a slightly more vivid and distinctly informal tone. The related “stroppy” means annoyed or bad-tempered, while “stroppiest” is the superlative. Because the expression is regionally marked, it may sound especially natural in Commonwealth English and somewhat conversational in British English, although it is also understood elsewhere.
comparative adjectiveMore annoyed, angry, or bad-tempered than someone or something else.
- More annoyed, angry, or bad-tempered.
"The stroppier customer demanded to speak to the manager."
"He became stroppier when he discovered that his train had been cancelled."
"The children were stroppier than they had been all afternoon."
Stroppy may sound like something to do with razors, but as an adjective it means cross or irritable—and a stroppier is even more so.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of stroppier
The word belongs to the family of “strop,” a strip of material used for sharpening a razor; “stroppy” was formed with the suffix “-y.” The earlier English word “strop” is related to “strap” and comes from an Old English term for a narrow band or strip. The adjective “stroppy” developed in later British and Commonwealth usage, while “stroppier” is simply its comparative form.
Related word forms
How stroppier is actually used
This is an informal, mildly disparaging word used especially in British, Australian, and New Zealand English. It is commonly applied to people in an irritated mood and can sound more conversational than “angrier” or “more irritable.”
Easily confused with stroppier
A strop is a strip of material used for sharpening a razor, whereas a stroppier person is simply more annoyed or bad-tempered.