What does hotheaded mean?
Hotheaded describes a person who becomes angry, excited, or impatient very quickly and may therefore speak or act without sufficient thought. The word commonly characterizes someone whose temper is easily lost, but it can also refer more broadly to impetuous behavior, such as a rash decision made after a heated exchange. It usually carries a mildly disapproving tone: unlike simply saying that someone is enthusiastic, calling them hotheaded suggests that their intensity has overtaken their judgment. The term can be used attributively, as in “a hot-headed official,” or predicatively, as in “the candidate grew hot-headed.” It is understood in British and American English, with both “hotheaded” and “hot-headed” in common use. The word is useful when discussing emotional volatility, rash conduct, and the contrast between forceful passion and careful restraint.
adjectiveHaving a tendency to become angry or excited very quickly; characterized by anger, impatience, or a loss of self-control.
- Angerful or excitable to the point of losing control or acting rashly.
- Characterized by impatient, impetuous, or strongly opinionated behavior.
"A hot-headed official apologized after making a series of reckless decisions."
"He became hot-headed when challenged about the proposal."
"The minister's hot-headed response derailed an otherwise productive discussion."
One raised voice can reveal a hot-headed temperament faster than any formal argument.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hotheaded
Hotheaded was formed in English from hot and headed, in the sense of having a heated or overexcited head. The compound dates from the early modern period, when hot had already come to describe both physical heat and intense emotion. Its development reflects the older figurative idea that anger or excitement literally heats the head. Related English forms such as head, ahead, and header belong to the same older Germanic vocabulary for the body part from which the compound was constructed.
Related word forms
How hotheaded is actually used
The adjective is often mildly critical and is used mainly for people, behavior, decisions, and reactions. It is commonly written as two words, though the hyphenated form hot-headed is also widely accepted.
Easily confused with hotheaded
A hothead is a person who is quick-tempered, whereas hotheaded is an adjective describing such a person or their behavior.