23
nasty(adjective, mean, offensive, unpleasant, violent)
16
cantankerous(adjective, mean, tough, rough, nasty)
16
irritable(adjective, mean, difficult, sensitive, touchy)
12
crotchety(adjective, mean, difficult, informal, irritable)
12
disagreeable(adjective, mean, nasty, difficult, unpleasant)
12
contrary(adjective, support, mean, difficult, attitude)
12
cranky(adjective, mean, difficult, delicate, informal)
9
mean(adjective, evil, sharp, nasty, delicate)
8
fractious(adjective, mean, informal, cross, irritable)
8
bearish(adjective, rough, difficult, rude, coarse)
8
crusty(adjective, mean, difficult, coarse, irritable)
8
grumpy(adjective, mean, difficult, delicate, informal)
7
difficult(adjective, support, mean, attitude, lively)
7
stubborn(adjective, characteristic, quality, tough, firm)
6
hateful(adjective, mean, sharp, nasty, harsh)
6
quarrelsome(adjective, mean, sharp, nasty, difficult)
6
churlish(adjective, mean, rough, difficult, informal)
6
crabby(adjective, mean, difficult, irritable, critical)
6
cross(adjective, mean, sharp, difficult, delicate)
6
testy(adjective, mean, difficult, informal, sensitive)
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APASmart Define. (2015). ornery thesaurus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/ornery/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "ornery thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/ornery/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, ornery thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/ornery/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "ornery thesaurus" 30 November 2015. Web. 20 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/ornery/thesaurus/synonyms>