adjective

cross

Feeling or showing irritation or anger.

The child looks cross when his turn ends.

Etymology

Something cross can lie across another thing or oppose it. Applied to a mood, that contrary disposition becomes irritation and a readiness to resist or object.

More examples

  • She was cross with me for arriving late.
  • He sounded crosser than he intended.
  • Even the crossest passenger calmed down after the announcement.

Forms

cross · crosser · crossest

crossly adverb — In an annoyed or angry way.

Similar words

irritable
Suggests a tendency to become annoyed easily.
annoyed
The ordinary American adjective for this feeling.