ornery

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.

Josh Charles stars as a talented but ornery surgeon who leaves his career in Boston to become a doctor in a small town.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

Quesada said she’d surprise him at times with funny little stories “about her more ornery days.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2024

An ornery, board-jacking sea otter is terrorizing surfers off the coast of Santa Cruz.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2023

With his wild, Einsteinian coif, Romantic poet adoration and cryptic, sometimes ornery nature, Dylan is often held up as an emblematic example of the modern male genius.

From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2023

“Talk about wild things! Your grand-mother was the wildest, most untamed, most ornery and beautiful creature ever to grace this earth.”

From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech