
Full Answer
What is the meaning of the word cantankerous?
Definition of cantankerous : difficult or irritating to deal with a cantankerous mule Other Words from cantankerous Synonyms & Antonyms The Origin of Cantankerous Is Mysterious More Example Sentences Learn More About cantankerous Other Words from cantankerous
What is the difference between grumpy and cantankerous?
Cantankerous folks are disagreeable and often contentious. Being four syllables, cantankerous is a loftier-sounding word than grumpy, an expressive word akin to a grunt with origins in the phrase “humps and grumps.” Cantankerous, on the other hand, was probably formed from a Middle English word that meant “quarrel” or “contention.”
What is the difference between rancorous and cankerous?
Rancorous brings the anger and "bitter deep-seated ill will" (as rancor can be understood to mean). And cankerous brings the perhaps understandable foul mood: a cankerous person suffers from painful sores—that is, cankers. Contemporaries often found him aloof, standoffish, and cantankerous and his mannerisms and diction inscrutable.
Do people get cantankerous as they grow older?
This essay is written in that cantankerous spirit. A report earlier this week said that people do not get cantankerous as they grow older; they are born that way. Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0

What kind of word is cantankerous?
What type of word is cantankerous? As detailed above, 'cantankerous' is an adjective. Adjective usage: The cantankerous landlord always grumbled when asked to fix something.
What does the cantankerous mean?
Definition of cantankerous : difficult or irritating to deal with a cantankerous mule.
What is the example of cantankerous?
The definition of cantankerous is someone who is bad tempered, grumpy or looking for an argument. An example of cantankerous is a grumpy old man who lives on your street who is always watching the neighborhood kids to find something to yell at them about.
What does the word Cankerous mean?
Definitions of cankerous. adjective. having an ulcer or canker. synonyms: ulcerated, ulcerous unhealthy. not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind.
What is the synonym of cantankerous?
Synonyms. bad-tempered. a crusty, bad-tempered, ill-humoured character. contrary.
Who is a cantankerous person?
Someone who is cantankerous is always finding things to argue or complain about. [written] ...a cantankerous old man. Synonyms: bad-tempered, contrary, perverse, irritable More Synonyms of cantankerous.
What is a cantankerous woman?
adjective. having a difficult and contrary disposition. “"a cantankerous and venomous-tongued old lady"- Dorothy Sayers” synonyms: crotchety, ornery ill-natured. having an irritable and unpleasant disposition.
How do you use cantankerous in a simple sentence?
Cantankerous in a Sentence 🔉Since Congress is such a cantankerous group, no one expects them to pass any new legislation this year.The leading character in the movie was a cantankerous old man who hated the world.Although Jenna's father can be quite cantankerous at times, he will do anything to make her happy.More items...
How do you say cantankerous in a sentence?
(1) He's getting a bit cantankerous in his old age. (2) As Ethel grew older, she became more cantankerous. (3) The cantankerous tone of Hippolytus can not be denied. (4) Brooks is the committee's cantankerous chairman.
What is the root of the word canker?
Etymology 1 From Middle English canker, cancre, from Old English cancer, akin to Dutch kanker, Old High German chanchar. Ultimately from Latin cancer (“a cancer”). Doublet of cancer, a later borrowing from Latin, and chancre, which came through French.
Is Tankerous a word?
tan·ker·ous.
What is Abroach?
Definition of abroach 1 archaic : in a condition for letting out a liquid (such as wine) 2 archaic : in action or agitation : astir mischiefs that I set abroach— William Shakespeare.
What is a cantankerous woman?
adjective. having a difficult and contrary disposition. “"a cantankerous and venomous-tongued old lady"- Dorothy Sayers” synonyms: crotchety, ornery ill-natured. having an irritable and unpleasant disposition.
How do you use cantankerous in a sentence?
They can be downright cantankerous. Jessie's husband passed away and she moved in with her cantankerous father-in-law Gus (Wilford Brimley). Despite what you say, your problems are much more likely to stem from a particularly cantankerous tape recorder than inferior cassettes.
What is the meaning of the idiom chew the cud?
to think slowly and carefully about something: He sat for a moment chewing the cud before he spoke. Thinking and contemplating. a brown study idiom.
What is the synonym of onus?
1 : burden 2 : a disagreeable necessity : obligation 3 : blame 4 : stigma.
The Origin of Cantankerous Is Mysterious
It's irritating, but we're not absolutely sure where cantankerous comes from.
Examples of cantankerous in a Sentence
Contemporaries often found him aloof, standoffish, and cantankerous and his mannerisms and diction inscrutable. — Jonathan Spence, New York Review of Books, 22 Oct. 2009 There are those who contend the hockey maven is a cantankerous old coot—rife with unpopular opinions and quick to assert them — Rick Harrison, Newsday, 19 Sept. 2004
Kids Definition of cantankerous
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Where did the word "cantankerous" come from?
First recorded in 1765–75; origin uncertain; earlier contankerous, perhaps derivation of Middle English contack, conteck “quarrel, contention,” from Anglo-French contek, formed on the models of contentious, rancorous.
How to use "cantankerous" in a sentence?
How to use cantankerous in a sentence. The very things that make this the kind of book you could hand to a cop, a neighbor or a cantankerous uncle may make it unsatisfying for more sophisticated readers. To Chicago he was still two-fisted, hard-drinking, cantankerous.
Why is the word "sinister" Latin?
The word "sinister" is Latin for "left," because left-handed people were often thought of as suspicious, evil, or demonic.
Is cantankerous obstructiveness intolerable?
Every one recognises that cantankerous obstructiveness would only make matters worse, nay, absolutely intolerable.
Where did the word "cantankerous" come from?
The origin of cantankerous is unclear (it may be at least partly from Middle English contek 'dissension'), but ever since it first appeared in plays from the 1770s, it's been a popular way to describe someone who is quarrelsome and disagreeable.
What does it mean when someone is cantankerous?
cantankerous. If someone is cantankerous he has a difficult disposition. Take care not to throw your ball into the yard of the cantankerous old man down the street — he'll cuss you out and keep your ball. The origin of cantankerous is unclear (it may be at least partly from Middle English contek 'dissension'), but ever since it first appeared in ...
What is a cantankerous animal?
It is usually applied to people, but stubborn animals like mules are also described as cantankerous. Events can be cantankerous too, like a cantankerous debate. Some synonyms are cranky, bad-tempered, irritable, irascible.
cantankerous is another word for grumpy
Every once in a while, we can all get a bit grumpy. When someone is grumpy on a regular basis or in a particularly argumentative way, they could be described as cantankerous. Cantankerous folks are disagreeable and often contentious.
Commonly found as
There was little surprise that it was the old, cantankerous shopkeeper who had complained about the parade.
See all synonyms for grumpy
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largess is another word for generosity
Generosity refers to a readiness or liberality in giving, and sometimes to an overall spirit of kindness. Generous giving, when it involves gifts or money, can be called largess. Largess can also refer to the gifts themselves.
Commonly found as
Many organizations, including universities, depend on government largess to be able to operate.
aspire is another word for hope
To hope for something is to desire it with only some expectation that it will happen. The verb aspire nudges desire toward action, implying an eagerness and drive to make it so. The work that goes into making an aspiration real may even leave you breathless.
Commonly found as
The young man aspired to become a professional interior designer someday, so he took an internship to gain relevant experience.
Where does the word "cantankerous" come from?
The word cantankerous is believed to have been derived from the Middle English word contek. The word contek means dissension. It is the same root from which words such as rancorous and cankerous have also been derived.
What does "cantankerous" mean?
Cantankerous is an adjective which means bloody-minded, stubborn, obstinate, obstructive, unwilling to cooperate and uncooperative. A cantankerous person is one who has and shows a bad temper and a difficult and contrary disposition. It is not easy to deal with a cantankerous person.
What does it mean when someone is cantankerous?
Someone who is cantankerous is always finding things to argue or complain about.
Who was the Catholic who was found in the undercroft of the House of Lords?
On the night of 4 November 1605 Guy Fawkes, a Catholic, was discovered in an undercroft of the House of Lords guarding a hoard of gunpowder intended to explode the following day at the state opening of Parliament and thereby assassinate the Protestant King James I and annihilate the government. Read more
Is it cantankerous when you are old?
It does not suit them and, when one is old, frequently one is very cantankerous.
Do people get cantankerous as they grow older?
A report earlier this week said that people do not get cantankerous as they grow older; they are born that way.
Can you enforce cantankerous husband?
That is very desirable, but it cannot be enforced where you have a cantankerous husband.