adj

ornery

AW-nuh-ree

Ornery (adj) means Stubborn, grumpy, and difficult to deal with. Example: “The old mule was too ornery to be led anywhere.”

adj

Stubborn, grumpy, and difficult to deal with.

"The old mule was too ornery to be led anywhere."

"Don't mind him — he gets ornery when he's tired."

How to use ornery

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGrumpy, stubborn, and hard to deal with.

When to use it

Informal, mostly American — has a folksy, rural flavor.

Common pairings

ornery old man get ornery

Word forms

ornerier comparative, orneriest superlative

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The old mule was too _____ to be led anywhere.

Etymology

A dialect contraction of "ordinary" — the word originally just meant "common" or "plain," but drifted over time in American speech to mean stubborn and cranky.

Synonyms

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stubborn cantankerous cranky irritable contrary crotchety

Related words

glad angry opposite opposed reverse contrary opposing polar

Rhymes for ornery

very every fiery query leery emery artery celery bakery finery misery watery

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ornery” mean?

The word “ornery” means stubborn, grumpy, and difficult to deal with. In plain terms, grumpy, stubborn, and hard to deal with.

How do you pronounce “ornery”?

“Ornery” is pronounced AW-nuh-ree (/ˈɔɹnəɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “ornery” in a sentence?

Here is “ornery” used in a sentence: “The old mule was too ornery to be led anywhere.”

What part of speech is “ornery”?

“Ornery” is an adjective.

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