cantankerous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

More character actor than leading man, he could be relied upon to inject a feisty, fiery machismo and a cantankerous contrariness into the most mainstream Hollywood offering.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Eve Hewson gets only one scene but proves boundlessly charming, as does Stacy Keach as Jay’s cantankerous dad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

He was known to colleagues as cantankerous, but he was also so knowledgeable about history and politics that he could broadcast for hours without notes or a script.

From New York Times • Jun. 3, 2024

But if I required an effective cure for a problematic colleague, for example, or a cantankerous neighbor, I used to call True Believer.

From Salon • May 4, 2024

It was the cantankerous, curmudgeonly talk show humorist Jean Shepherd who entranced him.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady