querulous

adjective

ˈkwer-yə-ləs How to pronounce querulous (audio)
Definition of querulousnext
as in restless
given to complaining a lot car trips that were frequently spoiled by a couple of querulous passengers in the back

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 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 See All Example Sentences for querulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for querulous
  1. restless
  2. irritable
  3. grumpy
  4. displeased
  5. grouchy
  6. nervous
  7. dissatisfied
  8. crabby
Adjective
  • Jackass is for the 12-year-old boy within us all, one that’s a little bit rowdy and a little bit restless and a little bit destructive, but still sort of innocent about it all.
    — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • His work thrives on the incoherence of his own restless curiosity.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, an irritable, cynical weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to report a story about the town’s quaint groundhog ceremony.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Whether a balanced market can be achieved with competing cartels will be an interesting experiment in a sometimes-irritable trade relationship.
    — Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • The cast is led by Tolman, with Grier playing the grumpy emergency physician Ron.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Jeremy Swift returns as Higgins, and Brett Goldstein reprises his role of the grumpy former footballer, Roy Kent.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of grumpy
Adjective
  • The Firm is, unsurprisingly, displeased at the idea of more dirty laundry coming to light.
    — Emma Banks, InStyle, 7 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of displeased
Adjective
  • Everything about it was meant to be a corrective against that straight white, grouchy private detective.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • That Utah rideshare driver, however, was justifiable more grouchy.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of grouchy
Adjective
  • Severe illness can affect the central nervous symptom and result in hospitalization or death.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Given all that, is Green nervous about working within the system once more?
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • Rogers sought to capitalize on divisions within the Democratic Party, arguing that voters dissatisfied with the primary outcome should consider supporting his campaign.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Risks caused by a lack of diverse perspectives include security, reputation and flight risk for dissatisfied staff.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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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Cite this Entry

“Querulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/querulous. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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