What does stroppiest mean?
Stroppiest means extremely cross, irritable, or bad-tempered. It is the superlative form of the informal adjective stroppy and is especially common in British English. The word is used when describing a person's mood, attitude, or reaction: someone who becomes stroppiest may complain loudly, lose their patience, or become visibly annoyed. Although it can describe a temporary state, it often suggests a temperament that is prone to anger or irritation. Stroppy is more familiar and conversational than formal alternatives such as irascible, choleric, or irate. In the expression "get stroppy with someone," it describes a person becoming angry or hostile toward another. The word is often playful or mildly humorous when used about ordinary everyday frustration, but it can sound more critical when used to describe a serious conflict.
adjectiveStroppiest is the superlative of stroppy, meaning extremely irritable, cross, or bad-tempered.
- Extremely irritable, cross, or easily angered.
"He became stroppiest when the train was delayed."
"The stroppiest customer demanded to speak to the manager."
"She was stroppiest when she discovered that her suitcase had been damaged."
Sometimes called the most irritable member of the family, stroppiest is the superlative of the distinctly British word stroppy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of stroppiest
The word belongs to the informal vocabulary of British and Irish English. Its precise historical origin is uncertain, and it is sometimes connected with strop, a leather used for sharpening razors, but the word family is not well documented. The related adjective stroppy became established in the early twentieth century, and the superlative stroppiest follows the usual English formation of adding -est.
Related word forms
How stroppiest is actually used
Informal and chiefly British, though also understood in North American English. It is typically used for a person's mood or manner, especially in casual conversation.