QUERULOUS Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

querulous

adjective

ˈkwer-yə-ləs

Definition of querulous

as in restless

given to complaining a lot car trips that were frequently spoiled by a couple of querulous passengers in the back

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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 querulous One came across as a quiet, reserved, eloquent, thoughtful force of nature; the other as a boisterous, querulous, troublemaking and sometimes thoughtless and mean force of nature. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2022 Today those late, querulous paintings are counted among the most influential American artworks of the twentieth century. — Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 14 Jan. 2021 Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor. — Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 The most salutary change was Kelsey, who turned from Rigoletto to Amonasro, and who gave his trademark smoky tone and aura of threat to a role that, earlier in the month, George Gagnidze had rendered merely tight and querulous. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for querulous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for querulous

Adjective

The London trio updates the naive humanism of 2000s indie-folk with modern dread and restless experimentation on its ambitious full-length debut.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 July 2026
Her book is a panoramic, abundantly detailed history of a century of turmoil and restless migratory movements gravitating around El Paso.

— Julia Preston, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

Definition of restless

Adjective

The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.

— Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

Today, be patient with family members, especially parents and older relatives, because people are in a stern, strict and grumpy mood.

— Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
Where genius creator and grumpy granddad Rick might take collective hivemind Unity as a lover on a faraway planet, President Curtis is more likely to be found hunting the Loch Ness Monster or the Hodag on Earth, or travelling to the moon.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026

Definition of grumpy

Adjective

The shot sailed over the bar before England keeper Jordan Pickford shouted at his defenders, clearly displeased with the lack of resistance in their own half.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, was still displeased with the larger spending plan, which is the largest in state history despite its minimal growth.

— Ben Szalinski, CBS News, 16 June 2026

Definition of displeased

Adjective

At Clis boutique in Melrose Park, owner Jeimmy Espina is nervous and overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured in her home country.

— Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Apple head honchos are nervous about cybersecurity – and one reason might be a recent supply chain attack on supplier Tata, the largest Indian company of its kind to ink a partnership with the front-running American smartphone company.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of nervous

Adjective

Inflation is a sore spot for Americans, who are growing more dissatisfied with the economy, according to polls and consumer surveys.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 1 July 2026
Gen Zers are even more dissatisfied with their opportunities, Blanchflower says, amid factors like underemployment, the Covid-19 pandemic, war, trade tariffs, artificial intelligence, automation and job-hugging.

— Jennifer Liu Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 29 June 2026

Definition of dissatisfied

Adjective

For the priests, this was a case of demonic possession due to witch-craft, and Mary’s crabby, aloof neighbor Elizabeth Jackson was the prime witch suspect.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The show followed the destitute Cuylers — father Early, his illegitimate son Rusty, his meth-loving sister Lily, and his crabby grandmother Granny — and their various moneymaking high jinks.

— Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of crabby

Browse Nearby Words

querists

querulous

querulousness

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“Querulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/querulous. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of querulous

adjective

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