different between venomous vs cantankerous

English

Etymology

From Middle English venemous, venymous, from Anglo-Norman venimus, from venin. Cf. Latin ven?n?sus. Equivalent to venom +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?v?n?m?s/

Adjective

venomous (comparative more venomous, superlative most venomous)

1. Full of venom.

2. Toxic; poisonous.
   • c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Again?t venemous tongues enpoy?oned with ?claunder and fal?e detractions &c.:

     More venemous and much more virulent
     Then any poy?oned tode, or any ?erpent.

3. Noxious; evil.
4. Malignant; spiteful; hateful.

5. Producing venom (a toxin usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging) in glands or accumulating venom from food.

6. powerful

Usage notes

See poisonous#Usage notes.

Synonyms

• noxious
• poisonous
• toxic

Antonyms

• non-venomous

Translations

References

• “venomous” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• venomous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

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