Quick-tempered describes someone who gets angry very easily and very fast. A quick-tempered person might explode over small things that wouldn't bother most people: a spilled glass of milk, a lost pencil, or having to wait an extra minute. Their anger flares up suddenly, like striking a match.

You might notice a quick-tempered classmate snapping at people when things don't go their way, or a quick-tempered coach yelling after a small mistake. The anger often comes so fast that it surprises everyone, sometimes even the angry person. One moment everything seems fine, the next moment they're furious.

The word combines quick (fast, sudden) with tempered, which relates to temperament or mood. Being quick-tempered is different from staying angry for a long time. A quick-tempered person might cool down just as quickly as they heated up, but their explosive reactions can still hurt feelings and damage friendships. The opposite would be someone even-tempered, who stays calm and steady even when things go wrong.