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
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
The New York Times
Examples of short fuse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Happy's father's untimely death was what led to Happy developing a short fuse, and his bond with his grandma was what first inspired him to take up the game of golf despite his distaste for the pretensions of the sport.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 25 July 2025
Overwhelm often appears in subtle signals: a tight jaw, a short fuse, calendar overload or the impulse to micromanage.
—Ashley B. Stewart, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for short fuse
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Megan McCluskey, Time, 25 July 2025
Overwhelm often appears in subtle signals: a tight jaw, a short fuse, calendar overload or the impulse to micromanage.
—Ashley B. Stewart, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for short fuse
Cite this Entry
“Short fuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20fuse. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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