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cantankerous

adjective
can·​tan·​ker·​ous | \ kan-ˈtaÅ‹-k(É™-)rÉ™s How to pronounce cantankerous (audio) , kÉ™n-\

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

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Other Words from cantankerous

cantankerously adverb
cantankerousness noun

The Origin of Cantankerous Is Mysterious

It's irritating, but we're not absolutely sure where "cantankerous" comes from. Etymologists think it probably derived from the Middle English word contack (or "contek"), which meant "contention" or "strife." Their idea is that "cantankerous" may have started out as "contackerous" but was later modified as a result of association or confusion with "rancorous" (meaning "spiteful") and "cankerous" (which describes something that spreads corruption of the mind or spirit). Considering that a cantankerous person generally has the spite associated with "contack" and "rancor," and the noxious and sometimes painful effects of a "canker," that theory seems plausible. What we can say with conviction is that "cantankerous" has been used in English since at least the late 1700s.

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 … it's something ultimately more memorable: a self-portrait of a coolly cantankerous woman, reformed but unrepentant. — David Gates, New York Times Book Review, 21 Nov. 1999 In his last years, Harriman was the kind of cantankerous old man who once berated a financial planner by threatening to make him sit in the corner and wear a dunce cap. — Bryan Burrough, Vanity Fair, January 1995 a cantankerous old woman who insisted that nothing should ever be allowed to change
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Recent Examples on the Web

 In short, there are some cantankerous debates ahead. — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, "28 candidates file for 7 seats on the St. Paul City Council, and here they are," 25 Aug. 2019 His cantankerous grandfather, the third generation of Zalatimo chefs, demanded that Abdallah master recipes dating back to the brand's birth in 1860 before handing him the reins. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, "How an Old School Jordanian Sweets Maker Made it to Walmart," 19 July 2019 If someone is cantankerous or difficult, expect some flak. — BostonGlobe.com, "Horoscope," 3 July 2019 Dominic Cummings, the cantankerous head of the campaign and a staunch critic of how the government has handled negotiations, is an adviser. — The Economist, "Ditching the gags (and his enemies) Boris Johnson claims his prize," 25 July 2019 That dubious honor is reserved for Fannie Lowenstein, the most cantankerous of the widows, who arrived at the Plaza in 1958 as a young divorcée and soon met a fellow hotel resident who became her second husband. — Julie Satow, New York Times, "The Widows of the Plaza Hotel," 7 June 2019 Country music needs its cantankerous contrarians and twangy troublemakers. — John Adamian, courant.com, "Toby Keith playing Mohegan for Independence Day," 28 June 2019 My dog was exquisite, a cantankerous bundle of love and light. — Jen A. Miller, SELF, "When My Dog Died, I Discovered a Thriving Pet Funeral Industry I Never Knew Existed," 9 Apr. 2019 Barks McWoofins became a retired fake spokesperson that came back into service for National Consumer Protection Week but was really cantankerous about it. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "Why a government agency is spreading memes about dogs riding pigeons," 29 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cantankerous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cantankerous

1772, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cantankerous

perhaps irregular from obsolete contack contention

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More Definitions for cantankerous

cantankerous

adjective
How to pronounce cantankerous (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cantankerous

: often angry and annoyed

See the full definition for cantankerous in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cantankerous

adjective
can·​tan·​ker·​ous | \ kan-ˈtaÅ‹-kÉ™-rÉ™s How to pronounce cantankerous (audio) \

Kids Definition of cantankerous

: crabby, quarrelsome

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More from Merriam-Webster on cantankerous

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cantankerous

Spanish Central: Translation of cantankerous

Nglish: Translation of cantankerous for Spanish Speakers

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