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Cantankerous - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Cantankerous describes someone who is bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative, often complaining or disagreeing in a stubborn way. It is used to characterize difficult or irritable people.

cantankerous

/kænˈtæŋkərəs/ /kænˈtæŋkərəs/

Definition:

Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.

Synonyms:

irritable, grumpy, quarrelsome, peevish

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

agreeable, amiable

Common Collocations:

old man, mood, behavior, attitude

Derivatives:

cantankerously, cantankerousness

Usage Tips:

Use "cantankerous" to describe someone stubbornly difficult or irritable, often in a persistent way.

Common Phrases:

cantankerous old man, in a cantankerous mood

Etymology:

Likely derived from Middle English "contakour," meaning troublemaker, influenced by "rancorous."

Examples:

  • 1. The cantankerous neighbor yelled at the kids for playing too loudly.
  • 2. Her cantankerous attitude made teamwork nearly impossible.
  • 3. The old cat grew increasingly cantankerous with age.
  • 4. He became cantankerous whenever anyone disagreed with him.

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