ornery

Thân thiện

The old farmer was feeling ornery and refused to help.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Bad-tempered, difficult to deal with, and often stubborn: Describes a person who is easily annoyed, uncooperative, and inclined to be contrary or mean-spirited, often in a somewhat petty or grumpy way.

Usage

• The word "ornery" is used to describe a person's habitual disposition or mood. It suggests a combination of irritability, stubbornness, and a disagreeable nature. It is often applied to someone who is not just temporarily in a bad mood, but whose general character is difficult.
• It is typically used in informal contexts and can sometimes carry a slightly humorous or affectionate tone when describing someone's stubborn quirks, though it is fundamentally negative.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • My grandfather became quite ornery in his old age, complaining about every little change.
  • Don't be so ornery; I'm just trying to help you.
  • The ornery mule refused to move no matter how much the farmer pulled.

Advanced Usage

• "To be/get in an ornery mood": To be or become temporarily difficult and contrary.
  • Watch out, the boss is in an ornery mood today.

Variants and Related Words

• Orneriness (noun): The quality or state of being ornery.
  • His constant orneriness made him hard to work with.

Synonyms

• Cantankerous: Bad-tempered and argumentative.
• Crotchety: Irritable, especially in an eccentric way.
• Contrary: Perversely inclined to disagree or oppose.
• Crusty: Abrupt or gruff in manner.
• Grouchy: Grumpy and irritable.

Antonyms

• Amiable: Having a friendly and pleasant manner.
• Agreeable: Enjoyable and pleasant to be with; willing to agree.
• Good-natured: Kind, tolerant, and not easily annoyed.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having a difficult and contrary disposition
   • a cantankerous and venomous-tongued old lady- Dorothy Sayers

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cantankerous
• crotchety