adjectiveAdvanced

cantankerous

US

/kænˈtæŋkərəs/

UK

/kænˈtæŋkərəs/

Meaning

Bad-tempered and often argumentative, especially over small or unimportant things.

चिड़चिड़ा और बात-बात पर बहस या शिकायत करने वाला, खासकर छोटी-छोटी बातों पर।

Examples

“Our cantankerous neighbor complained whenever anyone parked near his gate.”

describe a personcomplain about

“The usually friendly shopkeeper became cantankerous after a long, exhausting day.”

become cantankerousdescribe a change in mood

“His cantankerousness made even simple discussions feel like arguments.”

noun formdescribe a personality trait

Useful patterns

a cantankerous personbecome or grow cantankerouscantankerous about small thingscantankerous toward someone

Word toolkit

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Word family

cantankerously(adverb)
cantankerousness(noun)

Common collocations

cantankerous old mancantankerous neighborcantankerous naturecantankerous moodgrow cantankerousbecome cantankerouscantankerous personality

Common mistakes

Not natural: He is cantankerous person.

Better: He is a cantankerous person.

Cantankerous describes the singular countable noun person, so it needs the article a.

Person एक गिनने योग्य एकवचन संज्ञा है, इसलिए उसके पहले a लगाएँ।

Not natural: She was cantankerous to the noisy schedule.

Better: She was cantankerous about the noisy schedule.

Use about for the issue causing irritation; toward can describe the person receiving it.

जिस बात से चिढ़ हो, उसके लिए about कहें; जिस व्यक्ति पर चिढ़ दिखे, उसके लिए toward इस्तेमाल कर सकते हैं।

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Synonyms

Words with similar meaning

grumpyirritablecrankybad-temperedquarrelsome
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Antonyms

Words with contrasting meaning

good-naturedamiableagreeable

Learner tip

Cantankerous usually suggests a persistent tendency to argue or complain, not just a moment of ordinary irritation.

Cantankerous आम चिढ़ से बढ़कर, बार-बार बहस या शिकायत करने की आदत का संकेत देता है।

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What does cantankerous most nearly mean?

Cantankerous का सबसे सही मतलब क्या है?