cantankerous C2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /kænˈtæŋkəɹəs/ See IPA manual Freq #51218 Meanings 1 adj having a difficult and contrary disposition A cantankerous and venomous-tongued old lady- Dorothy Sayers. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · having a difficult and... crotchetyornery More argumentativecrankypeevishsurlycrustydisputatious Etymology Perhaps derived from earlier contenkerous, from contentious + rancorous. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # cantankerous **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /kænˈtæŋkəɹəs/ **Frequency rank:** 51218 ## Meanings 1. having a difficult and contrary disposition ## Examples - A cantankerous and venomous-tongued old lady- Dorothy Sayers. ## Synonyms - crotchety - ornery - argumentative - cranky - peevish - surly - crusty - disputatious ## Etymology Perhaps derived from earlier contenkerous, from contentious + rancorous. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown