Cantankerous
adjective
Being bad-tempered, grumpy, or argumentative.
My grandfather can be quite cantankerous if he hasn't had his morning coffee.
Often appears as...
- cantankerous old man
- cantankerous mood
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Being bad-tempered, grumpy, or argumentative.
My grandfather can be quite cantankerous if he hasn't had his morning coffee.
Often appears as...
- cantankerous old man
- cantankerous mood
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cantankerous implies strong disapproval and shouldn't be used flippantly.
The cantankerous landlord scared all the tenants.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Physical Context
Use it to describe behavior or personality, not physical objects.
During the negotiations, his cantankerous demeanor was off-putting.
Pro Tip 3/3Typically Informal
Though not slang, 'cantankerous' suits casual or literary speech more than formal writing.
The book's cantankerous hero became a fan favorite.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cantankerous implies strong disapproval and shouldn't be used flippantly.
The cantankerous landlord scared all the tenants.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Physical Context
Use it to describe behavior or personality, not physical objects.
During the negotiations, his cantankerous demeanor was off-putting.
Pro Tip 3/3Typically Informal
Though not slang, 'cantankerous' suits casual or literary speech more than formal writing.
The book's cantankerous hero became a fan favorite.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Cantankerous implies strong disapproval and shouldn't be used flippantly.
The cantankerous landlord scared all the tenants.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Physical Context
Use it to describe behavior or personality, not physical objects.
During the negotiations, his cantankerous demeanor was off-putting.
Pro Tip 3/3Typically Informal
Though not slang, 'cantankerous' suits casual or literary speech more than formal writing.
The book's cantankerous hero became a fan favorite.
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Video examples
An interview with the...
and up until last year, we were all still living, a bunch of old biddies, but we're still here. And sometimes we can be just cantankerous and blah blah blah blah blah, but we still go. And I love to see women.
Video examples
Tagging Adorable, Nasty...
I get is how adorable chinstrap penguins are but every time you get near them the very first thing that they do is projectile poop they're cantankerous they tend to be very aggressive and just
Video examples
An interview with the...
and up until last year, we were all still living, a bunch of old biddies, but we're still here. And sometimes we can be just cantankerous and blah blah blah blah blah, but we still go. And I love to see women.
Video examples
Tagging Adorable, Nasty...
I get is how adorable chinstrap penguins are but every time you get near them the very first thing that they do is projectile poop they're cantankerous they tend to be very aggressive and just
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Dick Cavett
American Entertainer
When I was a kid in Nebraska, a cantankerous farmer, known for plinking with his '22 at passing cars in which he perceived enemies, ingeniously rigged up a shotgun in his house, trained on the inside of his front door so as to widely distribute any intruder.
Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if it had been vaporized billions of years ago by cantankerous Klingons - there would still be (somewhat lower) tides raised by the Sun. For creatures dependent on the oceans' ebb and flow, life could go on.
Quote examples
Kathy Burke
English Actress
I'm quite a cantankerous soul. People have this impression that I have a happy disposition. But I'm dark and cynical underneath.
Quote examples
Charlie Baker
American Politician
Politics and public life are not for the faint of heart. It has been and always will be a noisy and cantankerous place.
Quote examples
Alexandra Petri
American Journalist
As long as cantankerous old people have existed, they have complained that kids nowadays don't seem to know anything.
Quote examples
Ariel Pink
American Musician
I get to live down my reputation for being cantankerous if I slowly evolve towards being a really good live show.
Quote examples
Zhuangzi
Chinese Philosopher
Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.
Quote examples
Peter Hook
English Musician
Old men are cantankerous: they like to get their own way.
Quote examples
Dick Van Dyke
American Actor
I'm not cantankerous.
Quote examples
John Witherspoon
American Actor
I am cantankerous.
Quote examples
Dick Cavett
American Entertainer
When I was a kid in Nebraska, a cantankerous farmer, known for plinking with his '22 at passing cars in which he perceived enemies, ingeniously rigged up a shotgun in his house, trained on the inside of his front door so as to widely distribute any intruder.
Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if it had been vaporized billions of years ago by cantankerous Klingons - there would still be (somewhat lower) tides raised by the Sun. For creatures dependent on the oceans' ebb and flow, life could go on.
Quote examples
Kathy Burke
English Actress
I'm quite a cantankerous soul. People have this impression that I have a happy disposition. But I'm dark and cynical underneath.
Quote examples
Charlie Baker
American Politician
Politics and public life are not for the faint of heart. It has been and always will be a noisy and cantankerous place.
Quote examples
Alexandra Petri
American Journalist
As long as cantankerous old people have existed, they have complained that kids nowadays don't seem to know anything.
Quote examples
Ariel Pink
American Musician
I get to live down my reputation for being cantankerous if I slowly evolve towards being a really good live show.
Quote examples
Zhuangzi
Chinese Philosopher
Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.
Quote examples
Peter Hook
English Musician
Old men are cantankerous: they like to get their own way.
Quote examples
Dick Van Dyke
American Actor
I'm not cantankerous.
Quote examples
John Witherspoon
American Actor
I am cantankerous.
Example 1 of 10
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