cantankerous

/kænˈtæŋkərəs/ (bre, ipa) · [kæntˈæŋkɚəs] /kænˈtæŋkərəs/ (ame, ipa) · [kæntˈæŋkɚəs] /kan-ˈtaŋ-k(ə-)rəs How to pronounce cantankerous (audio) kən-/ (ame, mw)

cantankerous — adjective

  • cantankerouspositive
  • more cantankerouscomparative
  • most cantankeroussuperlative

1. describes someone who often snaps at people, starts arguments, and complains whe

1.形容詞C2
釋義

describes someone who often snaps at people, starts arguments, and complains when things do not suit them.

例句

Salma's cantankerous uncle argued about the bill before dessert arrived.

attributive: cantankerous [family member] with habitual complaints

The cantankerous customer kept sending back his soup for tiny reasons.

collocation: cantankerous customer

同義詞
  • grumpy

    more everyday and often milder

  • irritable

    broader and often used for a temporary mood

  • ill-tempered

    more formal; stresses a bad temper as a trait

反義詞

文法句型

a cantankerous [person/neighbour/customer]

be/grow cantankerous about [something]

用法筆記

Usually describes a repeated habit, not one brief bad mood. Distinguish from sense 2, which stresses how stubborn and tiring the person is to work with.

常見錯誤

❌Bao was cantankerous for five minutes after missing one bus.
✅Bao was irritated for five minutes after missing one bus.
💡cantankerous suggests a habitual way of behaving, not a momentary reaction.

2. describes someone who keeps resisting help or compromise and is exhausting to wo

2.形容詞C2
釋義

describes someone who keeps resisting help or compromise and is exhausting to work or live with.

例句

Renata avoided her cantankerous business partner during the final budget meeting.

attributive: cantankerous [partner] making cooperation difficult

The village committee became so cantankerous that no repair plan could pass.

predicative with result clause: so cantankerous that

同義詞
  • obstinate

    focuses on refusing to change one's mind

  • difficult

    broader and less vivid

  • ornery

    informal, especially in American English

反義詞

文法句型

a cantankerous [partner/committee/editor]

be cantankerous with [colleagues/staff]

用法筆記

Often used when the person's stubbornness blocks progress or cooperation, not just when they complain aloud. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses more on arguing and grumbling.

常見錯誤

❌The project was cantankerous and would not finish on time.
✅The project manager was cantankerous and blocked every change.
💡this sense usually describes a person or group that resists cooperation.