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

Relevance

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
  • Two males and one female, the cubs were restless during Tuesday’s vaccination.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The dog was restless without his owner, and would look for men who resembled Vela Gonzalez on every walk, Cabrera said.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • As the fascination with Ernetti grows into something unhealthy, Béatrice subtly grows more tired, more distracted, more irritable and desperate for answers, small changes Sellier conveys with a smart sense of restraint.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The product immediately calmed down my irritable, rosacea-prone skin while delivering intense hydration that lasted all day.
    — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • One fond memory of Telluride is once being trapped in a gondola with the often grumpy Mike Leigh.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • There was another version where Daniela was grumpy and dark, the complete opposite of Maria.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of grumpy
Adjective
  • The Wolverines looked out of sorts for most of the night, and Whittingham was visibly displeased with their performance.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Drinkwitz was displeased with just one sack and no takeways from the defense on the night.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of displeased
Adjective
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Everything about it was meant to be a corrective against that straight white, grouchy private detective.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of grouchy
Adjective
  • The letter writer is almost 40 and nervous about living with a romantic partner for the first time.
    — Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That energy spike is reinforcing inflation worries in a bond market already nervous about America’s $40 trillion mountain of debt.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • According to Blue Apron's policy, customers who are dissatisfied with a meal or ingredient can contact the company within seven days of receiving their order.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers explored why consumers are so dissatisfied with the taste of tomatoes in the store.
    — Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 21 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
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Querulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/querulous. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of patina

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All