cantankerous
12 synonyms for cantankerous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Bad-tempered and always ready to argue or complain.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Perhaps derived from the earlier form contenkerous, itself a blend of contentious and rancorous.
Full origin of cantankerous →