ornery
Americanadjective
-
ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper.
No one can get along with my ornery cousin.
- Synonyms:
- testy, surly, ill-natured, ill-tempered, mean
-
stubborn.
I can't do a thing with that ornery mule.
-
low or vile.
-
inferior or common; ordinary.
adjective
-
stubborn or vile-tempered
-
low; treacherous
an ornery trick
-
ordinary
Other Word Forms
- orneriness noun
Etymology
Origin of ornery
First recorded in 1790–1800; contraction of ordinary
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.
But O’Neill’s 1921 drama poses ornery challenges for an actress—and not just because Greta Garbo immortalized the role in her first “talkie.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025
Even the ornery and Scrooge-like Walter can’t help but become emotional at reading that.
From Salon • Nov. 23, 2023
It falls to Asha, her quirky friends, an ornery talking goat sidekick and a cute fallen star to rebel against Magnifico to get the wishes back.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 21, 2023
She earned her name by her ornery behavior with staff and other bison, said Racheal Komulainen, the park’s animal keeper.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2023
Maybe it was just that ornery part of me making trouble again.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
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.
