ill-natured

[ il-ney-cherd ]

adjective

1. having or showing an unkindly or unpleasant disposition.

   Synonyms: sour, gloomy, morose, sulky, petulant, cranky

   Antonyms: amiable, kindly

ill-natured

adjective

1. naturally unpleasant and mean

Derived Forms

• ˌill-ˈnaturedness, noun
• ˌill-ˈnaturedly, adverb

Other Words From

• ill-natured·ly adverb
• ill-natured·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill-natured¹

First recorded in 1625–35

Synonym Study

See cross.

Example Sentences

But the ill-natured people were quite wrong; it was not Messrs. Jones who paid Mrs. Charmington's bills.

From Project Gutenberg

Ill-natured people said that Mrs. Charmington owed a great deal to Messrs. Jones.

From Project Gutenberg

Ill-natured people said that he married in order to have an excuse to get a holiday in which to draft his measure.

From Project Gutenberg

Thank you, I hope you will come, and you must excuse poor Mary; she is not so ill-natured as she seems.

From Project Gutenberg

Your return as one of the Parliamentary forces will now put an end to all ill-natured remarks.

From Project Gutenberg