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Definitions

curmudgeonly

[ker-muhj-uhn-lee] / kərˈmʌdʒ ən li /
ADJECTIVE
crotchety
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cantankerous crusty grouchy grumpy ornery
WEAK
awkward bad-tempered bearish contrary crabby cranky cross cross-grained difficult disagreeable eccentric fractious irritable obstinate obstreperous odd peevish surly testy unusual vinegary waspish waspy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
happy nice pleasant
WEAK
cheerful
ADJECTIVE
economical
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cost-effective efficient practical prudent
WEAK
avaricious canny chary circumspect close closefisted frugal meager mean methodical miserly money-saving on the rims parsimonious penny-pinching penny-wise penurious provident prudential saving scrimping skimping spare sparing stingy thrifty tight time-saving unwasteful watchful work-saving
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inefficient
WEAK
careless uncareful uneconomical unreasonable wasteful
ADJECTIVE
hard-fisted
Synonyms
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious chary cheap chintzy churlish close close-fisted costive covetous economical extortionate frugal grasping greedy grudging ignoble illiberal ironfisted mean miserly narrow near
ADJECTIVE
penurious
Synonyms
WEAK
avaricious cheap chintzy close-fisted costive economical frugal greedy hoarding miserly parsimonious penny-pinching pennywise pinchpenny saving scrimping sparing thrifty tightfisted uncharitable ungenerous ungiving
ADJECTIVE
pinching
Synonyms
STRONG
close grasping grudging mean narrow near penny-pinching saving scrimping skimping sparing
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious chary cheap chintzy churlish close-fisted costive covetous economical extortionate frugal greedy hard-fisted ignoble illiberal ironfisted miserly parsimonious pennywise penurious petty pinchpenny rapacious scurvy selfish sordid thrifty tight tightfisted uncharitable ungenerous ungiving
Antonyms
STRONG
generous spendthrift unselfish wasting
ADJECTIVE
stingy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
frugal greedy miserly selfish thrifty
STRONG
ungenerous
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious chary cheap chintzy churlish close close-fisted costive covetous economical extortionate grasping grudging ignoble illiberal ironfisted mean narrow near parsimonious pennywise penurious petty pinchpenny rapacious saving scrimping scurvy skimping sordid sparing tightfisted uncharitable ungiving
Antonyms
STRONGEST
extravagant generous liberal uneconomical wasteful
WEAK
spendthrift
ADJECTIVE
surly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
boorish dour irritable morose rude sullen testy ugly
WEAK
brusque churlish cross crusty discourteous fractious glum grouchy ill-mannered ill-natured perverse saturnine sulky uncivil ungracious
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful happy kind nice pleasant polite refined sophisticated
WEAK
gentle

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.

Two curmudgeonly old rivals, reclusive spendthrifts, are marching toward a showdown that a lot of people really wish wasn’t happening.

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2024

A curmudgeonly teacher at an exclusive boys' school in the 1970s reluctantly finds himself having to look after a group of students who aren't able to return home for the holidays.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2023

“Wonka” star Hugh Grant was back to his curmudgeonly ways while talking about his latest role as an Oompa Loompa.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2023

Berkshire’s legions of devoted shareholders who regularly packed an Omaha arena to listen to the two men will remember the curmudgeonly quips Munger offered while answering questions alongside Buffett at the annual meetings.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 28, 2023

It was the cantankerous, curmudgeonly talk show humorist Jean Shepherd who entranced him.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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