cantankerous
[ kan-tang-ker-uhs ]
Part of Speech
adjective
Origin + Etymology
Mid 18th century; English
of unknown origin; perhaps a blend of Anglo-Irish cant ‘auction’ and rancorous
Synonyms
- cranky
- dour
- grouchy
- grumpy
- irascible
- prickly
- quarrelsome
- testy
Antonyms
- cheerful
- happy
- pleasant
- easy
- good-natured
- nice
Definition
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative
Example
The cantankerous man became more difficult to deal with as he aged.
Usage Over Time
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