curmudgeonly
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Brusque, surly, and forbidding in manner: Describes someone who is ill-tempered, gruff, and often rude or unfriendly in their interactions.
- Bad-tempered and miserly: Can imply a combination of irritability and stinginess, though the primary sense relates to a gruff, irritable disposition.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The curmudgeonly old man shouted at the children to get off his lawn.
- Her curmudgeonly demeanor made it difficult for new colleagues to approach her.
- Despite his curmudgeonly exterior, he had a secret fondness for stray cats.
Advanced Usage
- Describing a habitual trait: Used to describe a person's characteristic, long-standing personality, not a temporary mood.
- He was known throughout the village for his curmudgeonly ways.
- Literary or descriptive tone: The word is more formal or literary than synonyms like "grumpy" and is often used for vivid characterization.
Variants and Related Words
- Curmudgeon (n): A bad-tempered, difficult, or miserly person.
- The town's resident curmudgeon complained about the annual festival every year.
Synonyms
- Crusty: Abrupt and surly in manner.
- Gruff: Abrupt or taciturn in manner, often with a rough voice.
- Cantankerous: Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
- Surly: Bad-tempered and unfriendly.
Antonyms
- Amiable: Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
- Genial: Friendly and cheerful.
- Affable: Good-natured, friendly, and easy to talk to.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- A curmudgeonly old soul: A phrase used to describe someone, often elderly, with a persistently irritable or miserly character.
- He lived alone, a curmudgeonly old soul who distrusted modern conveniences.
Adjective
- brusque and surly and forbidding
- crusty remarks
- a crusty old man
- his curmudgeonly temper
- gruff manner
- a gruff reply