as in cantankerous
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Recent Examples of curmudgeonly
Van Pelt’s giant Pacific octopus narrator — wry, curmudgeonly, deeply observant — is the beating heart of the book.
—
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
And what of the gently curmudgeonly man of letters who runs an after-school study room for children, tutoring them in everything from multiplication tables to Victor Hugo?
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Sybil lives alone and spends her days fountain-penning personal letters and occasional emails that tell the story of her loves, losses, sorrows and deep regrets, through her alternately curmudgeonly and generous-hearted persona.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026
Best of all, this film has Leslie Nielsen, playing the curmudgeonly father of Goss’ Chris.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The new movie will chronicle the horrific origin story of Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada), the beloved, curmudgeonly alcoholic who served as a reluctant mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the franchise's first four films.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Anna immediately clocks that Larry, a curmudgeonly old man transported back to his younger self, is in for a tough ride.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 20 Nov. 2025
Diporto has no menu—dishes are read out by the curmudgeonly but beloved proprietor Dimitris Koliolios.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
The Leafs winger leans more on the delightfully curmudgeonly side.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
And what of the gently curmudgeonly man of letters who runs an after-school study room for children, tutoring them in everything from multiplication tables to Victor Hugo?
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Sybil lives alone and spends her days fountain-penning personal letters and occasional emails that tell the story of her loves, losses, sorrows and deep regrets, through her alternately curmudgeonly and generous-hearted persona.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026
Best of all, this film has Leslie Nielsen, playing the curmudgeonly father of Goss’ Chris.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The new movie will chronicle the horrific origin story of Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada), the beloved, curmudgeonly alcoholic who served as a reluctant mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the franchise's first four films.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Anna immediately clocks that Larry, a curmudgeonly old man transported back to his younger self, is in for a tough ride.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 20 Nov. 2025
Diporto has no menu—dishes are read out by the curmudgeonly but beloved proprietor Dimitris Koliolios.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
The Leafs winger leans more on the delightfully curmudgeonly side.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curmudgeonly
Adjective
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The journey is hampered by lack of money and other misfortunes, and it’s eventually interrupted by a gunshot, announcing the cantankerous presence of Tiga.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
-
High pop flys in left field during day games at the club’s spring ballpark have proven at times to be a cantankerous venture.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For ornery toddlers, who want to do everything themselves, Rao suggests giving them their own toothbrush to use while parents brush their teeth with a second one right alongside them.—
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall,
Popular Science,
11 Mar. 2026
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With two adults, three children, and one ornery cat living in the same house, keeping track of everyone’s stuff can sometimes seem overwhelming.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In fact, the B-2 bombers were still in the air with hours to go before reaching home when Van Hollen issued his querulous statement.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
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This canonical part has been played by some of the foremost women of the British stage, among them Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Edith Evans, who, in Anthony Asquith’s 1952 film adaptation, put a delightfully querulous spin on Lady Bracknell’s most indelible lines.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The film, set in 1920s Montana, unwraps the lives of the Burbank brothers, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George (Jesse Plemons), after George marries lonely widow Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst), setting surly Phil into a tailspin of cruelty that envelops the family.—
Sezin Devi Keohler,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
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The actor, who portrays surly Russian hockey captain Ilya Rozanov in the show, is in no way, shape or form Russian, and learned to speak the language rather flawlessly in just three weeks before filming.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Better is Danny Elfman’s spartan and fraught score, particularly the dyspeptic drums.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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But Kael sensed in her less dyspeptic moments that there was something special about Redford.—
Stephen Galloway,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The shows were appointment listening because one never knew who or what might set off with the irascible former Bears coach.—
Phil Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
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Under David Ellenstein’s direction, the production stars North Coast Rep veteran James Sutorius as the fading but humorously irascible Steven.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Arteta can strike a crotchety figure in post-match interviews, particularly when his team have dropped points.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The tale she’s lived to tell emerges, for all its crotchety complaints, from a place of unerring loyalty.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Another bill would put regulations around data centers, although lawmakers in the final days stripped out some of the language that tech companies found disagreeable.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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The day was cold and disagreeable, disappointing those who hoped for warm, sunny weather for the contest between Bogardus and Carver.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curmudgeonly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curmudgeonly. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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