adjective
General Slang
ornery
OR-nuh-ree · adjective · informal
Stubborn, cantankerous, or ill-tempered.
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Definitions
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Describes someone or something disagreeable, mean-spirited, or grouchy—often with a playful edge. Strongly associated with Appalachia and the rural South.
“That ornery old mule won't budge for love nor money.”
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ornery In A Sentence
That ornery old mule won't budge for love nor money.
Origin & Usage
An 1816 American dialectal contraction of "ordinary"; the sense drifted from "common/inferior" to "lazy" to "cantankerous" by the late 1800s.
People Also Ask
What does ornery mean?
Ornery describes someone or something stubborn, cantankerous, or ill-tempered, often with a playful edge, especially in Appalachian and rural Southern speech.
Where does ornery come from?
It's an 1816 American dialectal contraction of 'ordinary,' whose meaning drifted from 'common' to 'lazy' to 'cantankerous' by the late 1800s.
Is ornery always negative?
Not entirely. It usually means grouchy or difficult, but it often carries an affectionate, teasing tone.
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