Cantankerous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /kan-ˈtaŋ-k(ə-)rəs/ can·tan·ker·ous

Meaning & Definition of Cantankerous

Cantankerous (adjective)

  1. habitually angry or annoyed
  2. suggestive or expressive of an irritable temperament
  3. often difficult to deal with

Cantankerous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a habitually bad temper

    "a cantankerous old woman who insisted that nothing should ever be allowed to change"

    similar: acid, bearish, bilious, bloody-minded (chiefly British), disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, splenetic, surly
    related: choleric, crabby, cranky, crotchety, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, querulous, irascible, irritable, peevish, peppery, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippy, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, cussed, angry, exasperated, indignant, irate, mad, upset, uptight, depressed, dour, glum, morose, sullen, anal, old-maidish, schoolmarmish
    opposite: amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered
    near: agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant, benign, gentle, kind, nice, sweet, bubbly, cheerful, cheery, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, joyful, lighthearted, lively, vivacious, content, glad, happy, calm, placid, serene, long-suffering, patient, tolerant

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cantankerous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cantankerous:

Chiefly British: bloody-minded
acid, bearish, bilious, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, splenetic, surly

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cantankerous

Words with the opposite meaning of Cantankerous:

amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered

Related Words for Cantankerous

choleric, crabby, cranky, crotchety, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, querulous, irascible, irritable, peevish, peppery, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippy, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, cussed, angry, exasperated, indignant, irate, mad, upset, uptight

Near Antonyms of Cantankerous

agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant, benign, gentle, kind, nice, sweet, bubbly, cheerful, cheery, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, joyful, lighthearted, lively, vivacious, content, glad, happy, calm, placid, serene, long-suffering, patient, tolerant

Word Forms of Cantankerous

Derived words: cantankerously (adverb), cantankerousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cantankerous

perhaps irregular from obsolete contack contention

First known use: circa 1736

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cantankerous

Frequently Asked Questions about Cantankerous

What does "Cantankerous" mean?

"Cantankerous" means habitually angry or annoyed. As an adjective, it is defined as: habitually angry or annoyed.

What is another word for "Cantankerous"?

Other words for "Cantankerous" include acid, bearish, bilious, bloody-minded, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored and ill-natured. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cantankerous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cantankerous"?

There are 50 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cantankerous". Common alternatives include acid, bearish, bilious, bloody-minded, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered and ornery.

What is the opposite of "Cantankerous"?

Antonyms of "Cantankerous" include amiable, good-humored, good-natured and good-tempered. Near antonyms include agreeable, amicable, congenial and friendly.

How do you use "Cantankerous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cantankerous" in a sentence: "a cantankerous old woman who insisted that nothing should ever be allowed to change".

Is "Cantankerous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cantankerous" is an adjective.

Is "Cantankerous" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Cantankerous" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cantankerous"?

"Cantankerous" is pronounced /kan-ˈtaŋ-k(ə-)rəs/ and divided into syllables as can·tan·ker·ous.