ornery
[ awr-nuh-ree ]
/ ˈɔr nə ri /
adjective, or·ner·i·er, or·ner·i·est.Dialect.
ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper: No one can get along with my ornery cousin.
stubborn: I can't do a thing with that ornery mule.
low or vile.
inferior or common; ordinary.
SYNONYMS FOR ornery
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Origin of ornery
First recorded in 1790–1800; contraction of ordinary
OTHER WORDS FROM ornery
or·ner·i·ness, nounWords nearby ornery
ornamentalism, ornamentation, ornamented, ornate, Orne, ornery, ornis, ornith-, ornithic, ornithine, ornithinuria
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for ornery
British Dictionary definitions for ornery
ornery
/ (ˈɔːnərɪ) /
adjective US and Canadian dialect, or informal
stubborn or vile-tempered
low; treacherousan ornery trick
ordinary
Derived forms of ornery
orneriness, nounWord Origin for ornery
C19: alteration of ordinary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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