cross-grained

adjective

ˈkrȯs-ˌgrānd 

1

: difficult to deal with

her husband's self-absorbed and cross-grained nature

—Lance Morrow

2

: having the grain or fibers running diagonally, transversely, or irregularly

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cross-grained

• appertained
• ascertained
• entertained
• overstrained
• preordained
• unconstrained
• unexplained
• unrestrained
• abstained
• arraigned
• attained
• bloodstained