Dictionary entries for 'cantankerous'

Synonyms

bad-tempered
crabbed
cranky
cross
disagreeable
fretful
grouchy
grumpy
ill-tempered
irascible
irritable
nasty
peevish
petulant
querulous
snappish
snappy
surly
testy
ugly

can·tan·ker·ous (kăn-tănǵkər-əs)

[Perhaps from Middle English contek, dissension (influenced by such words as rancorous) (cankerous), from Anglo-Norman contec, possibly from Latin contāctus past participle of contingere, to touch; see contact.]

adjective

Ill-tempered and quarrelsome; disagreeable: disliked her cantankerous landlord.
Difficult to handle: “had to use liquid helium, which is supercold, costly and cantankerous” (Boston Globe)

derivatives

can·tańker·ous·ly: adverb
can·tańker·ous·ness: noun

adjective

derivatives

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition