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.
Origin of ornery
First recorded in 1790–1800; contraction of
ordinary
SYNONYMS FOR ornery
OTHER WORDS FROM ornery
or·ner·i·ness, nounWords nearby ornery
ornamentalism,
ornamentation,
ornamented,
ornate,
orne,
ornery,
ornis,
ornith-,
ornith.,
ornithic,
ornithine
British Dictionary definitions for orneriness
ornery
/ (ˈɔːnərɪ) /
adjective US and Canadian dialect, or informal
stubborn or vile-tempered
low; treacherous
an ornery trick
ordinary
Derived forms of ornery
orneriness, nounWord Origin for ornery
C19: alteration of
ordinary