as in cantankerous
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of curmudgeonly
Sybil lives alone and spends her days fountain-penning personal letters and occasional emails that tell the story of her loves, losses, sorrows and deep regrets, through her alternately curmudgeonly and generous-hearted persona.
—
Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026
Best of all, this film has Leslie Nielsen, playing the curmudgeonly father of Goss’ Chris.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The new movie will chronicle the horrific origin story of Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada), the beloved, curmudgeonly alcoholic who served as a reluctant mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the franchise's first four films.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Anna immediately clocks that Larry, a curmudgeonly old man transported back to his younger self, is in for a tough ride.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 20 Nov. 2025
Diporto has no menu—dishes are read out by the curmudgeonly but beloved proprietor Dimitris Koliolios.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
The Leafs winger leans more on the delightfully curmudgeonly side.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Gary Oldman stars as the curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb, who leads MI5, a unit full of low-level spies that includes Jack Lowden’s River Cartwright.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025
O’Neill is playing the mom’s curmudgeonly father-in-law who seems intent on making everyone’s life miserable.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026
Best of all, this film has Leslie Nielsen, playing the curmudgeonly father of Goss’ Chris.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The new movie will chronicle the horrific origin story of Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada), the beloved, curmudgeonly alcoholic who served as a reluctant mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the franchise's first four films.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Anna immediately clocks that Larry, a curmudgeonly old man transported back to his younger self, is in for a tough ride.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 20 Nov. 2025
Diporto has no menu—dishes are read out by the curmudgeonly but beloved proprietor Dimitris Koliolios.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
The Leafs winger leans more on the delightfully curmudgeonly side.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Gary Oldman stars as the curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb, who leads MI5, a unit full of low-level spies that includes Jack Lowden’s River Cartwright.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025
O’Neill is playing the mom’s curmudgeonly father-in-law who seems intent on making everyone’s life miserable.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curmudgeonly
Adjective
-
High pop flys in left field during day games at the club’s spring ballpark have proven at times to be a cantankerous venture.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Close leads the series as Maud Oldcastle, an older woman described as cantankerous and also a killer.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
With two adults, three children, and one ornery cat living in the same house, keeping track of everyone’s stuff can sometimes seem overwhelming.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
-
But Duvall rose to prominence the next decade, first as the ornery Major Frank Burns in the 1970 antiwar comedy M*A*S*H, reuniting with Robert Altman, who’d previously cast him in 1967’s Countdown.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This canonical part has been played by some of the foremost women of the British stage, among them Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Edith Evans, who, in Anthony Asquith’s 1952 film adaptation, put a delightfully querulous spin on Lady Bracknell’s most indelible lines.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Nov. 2025
-
Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
29 Feb. 2024
Adjective
-
The booms from the ice cracking sounded like a chorus of slamming doors, as if Poseidon had hundreds of surly teenagers living underwater with him.—
Robert Annis,
Outside,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Heathcliff is surly, cruel, and vindictive.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Better is Danny Elfman’s spartan and fraught score, particularly the dyspeptic drums.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But Kael sensed in her less dyspeptic moments that there was something special about Redford.—
Stephen Galloway,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The shows were appointment listening because one never knew who or what might set off with the irascible former Bears coach.—
Phil Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Under David Ellenstein’s direction, the production stars North Coast Rep veteran James Sutorius as the fading but humorously irascible Steven.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Arteta can strike a crotchety figure in post-match interviews, particularly when his team have dropped points.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The tale she’s lived to tell emerges, for all its crotchety complaints, from a place of unerring loyalty.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The day was cold and disagreeable, disappointing those who hoped for warm, sunny weather for the contest between Bogardus and Carver.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
This will also result in a disagreeable flavor most people will not enjoy.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curmudgeonly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curmudgeonly. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
