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
  • The 16-track set is a truly thrilling journey through the relentless ambition and restless psyche of a young Black woman who’s dedicated her life to navigating the notoriously tumultuous music industry.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
  • There’s Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), a former SP welder who’s scarred by the aftermath of his firing, and his vibrant and restless wife, Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon).
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • Coach There’s no better feeling than walking into your last show of the day, irritable and hungry, only to discover that snacks are being served.
    — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
  • If a relative or housemate seems irritable, ask what’s going on instead of working around the mood.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • Fear not, as the country has finally introduced a rulebook for leasing grumpy, humpy dromedaries.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • And the younger bears are giving him plenty of reasons to be grumpy.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of grumpy
Adjective
  • Kraft, his teammates and coaches have been giving the fans plenty to be displeased about.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Any agency whose main product is activity rather than thinking should be very nervous right now; frankly, some of them should have been nervous years ago.
    — Angelica Kopec, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Consumers in the country, nervous about the shaky economy, are loading up on gold jewelry, bars and coins.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • Lee ran the actors through multiple takes, but still felt dissatisfied.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That included voluntarily supplying law enforcement with lists of disgruntled current and former employees, and of the names of dissatisfied customers.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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