adj
cantankerous
Cantankerous (adj) means Bad-tempered and always ready to argue or complain.
adj
1
Bad-tempered and always ready to argue or complain.
"The normally cantankerous media did not complain."
— Mark Sappenfield, Ilia Malinin and the unforgiving glare of the Olympic spotlight (2026)
"Unfortunately, as Great-Aunt Bert could be a bit cantankerous, they were having to be creative."
— Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest (2010)
"Nina was thrilled, muttering her cantankerous joy that I was getting out of the house."
— Linda Francis Lee, The Devil in the Junior League (2007)
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Etymology
Perhaps derived from the earlier form contenkerous, itself a blend of contentious and rancorous.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cantankerous
See all rhymes for cantankerous →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of cantankerous?
"cantankerous" (adj) means bad-tempered and always ready to argue or complain.
What is another word for cantankerous?
Other words for "cantankerous" include choleric, fractious, atrabilious, carnaptious, bilious, bitchy.
