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Cantankerous: alternatives and connections

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Cantankerous

Perverse; contentious; ugly; malicious.

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52 useful connections shown 10 reviewed relationships and 42 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Similar meaning 8

Ill-natured 84% connected

Of habitual bad temper; peevish; fractious; cross; crabbed; surly; as, an ill-natured person.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

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Ill-natured 84% connected

Of habitual bad temper; peevish; fractious; cross; crabbed; surly; as, an ill-natured person.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

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Obstinate 84% connected

Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; --…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Definition Compare both words
Obstinate 84% connected

Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; --…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Definition Compare both words
Stubborn 84% connected

Firm as a stub or stump; stiff; unbending; unyielding; persistent; hence, unreasonably obstinate in will or opinion; not yielding to reason or persua…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Definition Compare both words
Stubborn 84% connected

Firm as a stub or stump; stiff; unbending; unyielding; persistent; hence, unreasonably obstinate in will or opinion; not yielding to reason or persua…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Definition Compare both words
Unregenerate 84% connected

Alt. of Unregenerated

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

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Unregenerate 84% connected

Alt. of Unregenerated

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

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Synonym 2

Bloody-minded 92% connected

Having a cruel, ferocious disposition; bloodthirsty.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Crotchety 92% connected

Given to crotchets; subject to whims; as, a crotchety man.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Definition Compare both words
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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Arguing noun · 78% connection

a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Argument noun · 78% connection

a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Arson noun · 78% connection

The malicious burning of a dwelling house or outhouse of another man, which by the common law is felony; the malicious and voluntary f…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Bateful adjective · 78% connection

Exciting contention; contentious.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Beldame noun · 78% connection

An old woman in general; especially, an ugly old woman; a hag.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Brigose noun · 78% connection

Contentious; quarrelsome.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Concertative adjective · 78% connection

Contentious; quarrelsome.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Contention noun · 78% connection

a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Contestation noun · 78% connection

a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Controversy noun · 78% connection

a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Customer noun · 78% connection

A peculiar person; -- in an indefinite sense; as, a queer customer; an ugly customer.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Debateful adjective · 78% connection

Full of contention; contentious; quarrelsome.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Disceptation noun · 78% connection

a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Discordful adjective · 78% connection

Full of discord; contentious.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Disputable verb · 78% connection

Disputatious; contentious.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Disputation noun · 78% connection

a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Dissension noun · 78% connection

Disagreement in opinion, usually of a violent character, producing warm debates or angry words; contention in words; partisan and cont…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
Dissensious adjective · 78% connection

Disposed to discord; contentious; dissentious.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: perverse, contentious, ugly, malicious.
Definition Compare
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