Ornery Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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ornery

[ˈɔːrnəri ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

difficult behavior

Easily annoyed or angered; having a difficult and contrary disposition.

Synonyms

cantankerous, cranky, grumpy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ornery	Often used to describe someone who is stubborn, hard to please, or difficult to deal with, especially in a challenging or mischievous way. It has a slightly more playful tone compared to the other words. My ornery old cat refuses to eat anything but the most expensive gourmet food. He can be quite ornery when he’s tired, arguing about anything and everything.
grumpy	Refers to someone who is easily annoyed and bad-tempered. This word is often used to describe a temporary state, such as being in a bad mood for a short period of time. He was grumpy all morning because he missed his coffee. Don’t take it personally, he’s just grumpy because he didn’t sleep well.
cranky	Used to describe someone who is irritable or easily annoyed. It is a more informal and everyday term, often used in casual conversation, particularly to describe temporary bad moods. After a long day at work, he’s always a bit cranky. The baby is cranky because she hasn’t had her nap yet.
cantankerous	Typically refers to someone who is bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative. It's generally used to describe older people or characters with a consistently difficult disposition. The cantankerous neighbor complained about the noise every single day. She was a cantankerous old woman who didn’t care about anyone else’s opinion.

Examples of usage

He was known for his ornery attitude towards authority figures.
Don't let his ornery behavior get to you.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

stubborn

Unwilling to cooperate or be agreeable; having a stubborn or uncooperative attitude.

Synonyms

contrary, intractable, obstinate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ornery	Ornery is used to describe someone who is grumpy, bad-tempered, or difficult to deal with, often in a playful or endearing way. It can also refer to animals exhibiting stubborn behavior. 'Grandpa can be quite ornery before his morning coffee ' 'The ornery mule refused to move an inch '
obstinate	Obstinate is used to describe someone who stubbornly refuses to change their opinion or course of action, despite attempts to persuade them otherwise. It has a negative connotation. 'He was obstinate about not needing help, even when it was obvious he did ' 'The obstinate child refused to eat his vegetables '
intractable	Intractable is used to describe someone or something that is very difficult or impossible to control, manage, or solve. Typically used in formal or serious contexts. 'The intractable problem of climate change requires innovative solutions ' 'Some patients with intractable pain need specialized care '
contrary	Contrary refers to someone who frequently opposes or disagrees with others, often just for the sake of being different. It can be used in a neutral or mildly negative sense. 'She has a contrary opinion on almost every topic ' 'He's always contrary just to start an argument '

Examples of usage

She can be quite ornery when she doesn't get her way.
His ornery nature makes it hard to work with him.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'ornery'

The word 'ornery' originated in the United States in the mid-19th century. It is believed to have come from the dialectical pronunciation of 'ordinary'. Over time, 'ornery' evolved to mean difficult, stubborn, or irritable. The term is often used colloquially to describe someone with a challenging or cantankerous attitude.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,557 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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33554 elbowing
33555 distending
33556 slacker
33557 ornery
33558 experientially
33559 unwrap
33560 tediously
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