This week's theme
Words to describe people

This week's words
impetuous
uxorious
implacable
cantankerous
impudent

---

Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML

---

A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(kan-TANG-kuhr-uhs)

MEANING:

adjective: Difficult to deal with: ill-tempered, quarrelsome.

ETYMOLOGY:

Of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Middle English contak (contention). Earliest documented use: 1736.

USAGE:

"Justin Wolff makes clear that Thomas Hart Benton had a difficult if not volcanic personality. Among the adjectives he uses to describe him are surly, belligerent, arrogant, pugnacious, combative, gruff, inflexible, cantankerous, argumentative, churlish, cruel, and blunt."
Terry Hartle; Thomas Hart Benton: A Life; The Christian Science Monitor (Boston); May 21, 2012.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: