different between cantankerous vs snappish

English

Etymology

Perhaps derived from earlier contenkerous, from contentious + rancorous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kæn?tæ?k???s/, /k?n?tæ?k???s/

Adjective

cantankerous (comparative more cantankerous, superlative most cantankerous)

1. Given to or marked by an ill-tempered nature; ill-tempered, cranky, surly, crabby.

Usage notes

Note: cantankerous is generally used to describe an unpleasant elderly person in a slightly pejorative manner. However, the term can be used to people in general, livestock, and machinery as well.

Synonyms

• cranky
• grouchy
• grumpy
• ornery
• surly
• truculent

Derived terms

Translations

English

Etymology

snap +? -ish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?snæp??/
• Rhymes: -æp??
• Hyphenation: snap?pish

Adjective

snappish (comparative more snappish, superlative most snappish)

1. Likely to snap or bite.

   A snappish cur

   • 1877, Anna Sewell, Black Beauty Chapter 22[1]

     "She came to us snappish and suspicious, but when she found what sort of place ours was, it all went off by degrees

2. Exhibiting irritation or impatience; curt; irascible.
   • 1990, Nora Roberts, Taming Natasha, Silhouette Books (2011), ?ISBN, unnumbered page:

     She heard her own voice, snappish and rude, and pressed a hand to her head.

   • 2011, Lynne McTaggart, The Bond, Simon & Schuster (2011), ?ISBN, page 91:

     Even though the woman didn't work closely with Barsade, so palpable was her complaining and snappish temperament that it had infected everyone who worked around her.

   • 2011, Mary Doria Russell, Doc, Random House (2011), ?ISBN, page 173:

     There was something underneath her snappish belligerence that made him feel protective and tolerant.

Derived terms

• snappishly
• snappishness

Translations