What does "crotchety" mean?
Cranky, disagreeable, or stubborn, especially if prone to odd whims or fancies.
Crotchety
/ˈkɹɑ.t͡ʃɪ.ti/ adj
adj ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Cranky, disagreeable, or stubborn, especially if prone to odd whims or fancies.
- Grammar: crotchety is listed as adj.
- Nearest alternatives: abnormal, anomalous, antagonistic, antipathetic.
- Useful contrasts: adaptive, amiable, even-tempered.
- Usage evidence: He wouldnt even let old Wilkie touch it do you remember Gerald but always gathered it himself and made his own julep. He was as crochety about his julep as an old maid, measuring everything by a recipe in his head.
How to use "crotchety"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "crotchety" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "crotchety" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "crotchety" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "crotchety" is acting as adj in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abnormal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Cranky, disagreeable, or stubborn, especially if prone to odd whims or fancies.
"He wouldnt even let old Wilkie touch it do you remember Gerald but always gathered it himself and made his own julep. He was as crochety about his julep as an old maid, measuring everything by a recipe in his head."
Adjective
- 1 having a difficult and contrary disposition wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"He wouldnt even let old Wilkie touch it do you remember Gerald but always gathered it himself and made his own julep. He was as crochety about his julep as an old maid, measuring everything by a recipe in his head."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "crotchety"?
Common synonyms include: abnormal, anomalous, antagonistic, antipathetic, arbitrary, bearish.
How do you use "crotchety" in a sentence?
He wouldnt even let old Wilkie touch it do you remember Gerald but always gathered it himself and made his own julep. He was as crochety about his julep as an old maid, measuring everything by a recipe in his head.
How do you pronounce "crotchety"?
Pronounced /ˈkɹɑ.t͡ʃɪ.ti/.
Etymology
From crotchet + -y, using crotchet in the 16th-century sense of a whim or fancy.