adjective
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informal cross; irritable; contrary
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full of crotchets
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of crotchety
Explanation
The adjective crotchety describes someone who's difficult, irritable, and ornery. If you're crotchety, you complain and argue and are more or less miserable to be around. Crotchety is most often used when talking about older people, like the crotchety old man who sits on his porch and yells at you to slow down when you drive by. Sometimes crotchety people take pleasure in bothering others or complaining. Crotchety derives from the word crotchet, meaning "whim or fancy," and crotchety people do seem subject to whims — you might not know exactly why they're irritable, but you definitely know they're crotchety.
Vocabulary lists containing crotchety
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Curmudgeon, Cantankerous and Churlish: Grouchy Words
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Walk Two Moons
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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.
Crotchety, self-righteous and quick to anger, but also loyal, compassionate and soulful, he’s the whole hard-boiled package.
From New York Times • May 5, 2022
We have the NFL’s Crotchety Committee — oh, sorry, Competition Committee — to thank.
From Washington Post • Nov. 9, 2021
Crotchety adults may joke: Maybe they’re too busy messing with their iPhones.
From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2015
Crotchety highbrow critics hemmed & hawed about his straight playing, but they had to admit that his mimicry was extraordinary.
From Time Magazine Archive
Old Crotchety takes the loss of his money too quietly to please me.
From The Rider of Waroona by Scott, G. Firth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
