short fuse

noun

: a tendency to get angry easily : a quick temper
… was seen as the bad guy, the one whose short fuse was scary, destructive and uncontrollable.Rick Telander
short-fused adjective
… a fiery and short-fused 30-year-old driver as well known for tantrums and bad behavior as he is for being the best rookie in history … The New York Times

Examples of short fuse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bernthal plays his formerly estranged brother, Brax, a clingy hitman with a short fuse. Mike Miller, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Imminent attack or not, Ellie’s operating with a short fuse. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025 Graham’s filmography is dotted through with dudes who have a short fuse and the fighting skills to back it up. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2025 The series will see the two Emmy-winning kitchen gurus guiding 12 chefs with ego issues or short fuses through culinary challenges that will put their personal and emotional issues to the test. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for short fuse

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short fuse was in 1958

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Cite this Entry

“Short fuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20fuse. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

short fuse

noun
: a tendency to get angry easily
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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