Cantankerous – bad tempered, argumentative

To remember the definition of the word cantankerous, use the following mnemonic:

Can the tank take us? (cantankerous). The man lost his temper because the tank wouldn't take him.

Can tank take us? (cantankerous). He lost his temper because the tank wouldn't take them.

Examples of cantankerous in a sentence

The cantankerous old man wouldn't move out of the way.

Despite her cantankerous nature, she meant well.

As Tilly grew older, she became more cantankerous than ever.