adjective
- bad-tempered and difficult to deal with
Usage: informal; chiefly American
Examples
- The ornery old man refused to let the children play in his yard.
- My cat gets ornery when it’s time for a bath.
- Don’t be so ornery about trying new foods.
- The ornery customer complained about everything on the menu.
- She was feeling ornery after a long day at work.
- The ornery mule wouldn’t budge from the path.