ornerier; orneriest
US, informal + often humorous
1
: easily annoyed or angered
I'm getting more and more ornery in my old age.
2
: difficult to deal with or control
an ornery mule
Cite this Entry
“Ornery.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/ornery. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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