Ornery – Usage, Meaning & Examples

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

We often come across words that capture unique character traits or qualities, like the word “ornery,” which you might not be familiar with. However, I assure you it has a pretty interesting meaning. So, let’s take a look at the meaning of ornery and all the ways you can use it!

Ornery Meaning

Ornery Usage Meaning Examples

The adjective “ornery” is a somewhat common word we use to describe someone irritable, stubborn, or just plain ill-tempered. It can also mean someone difficult to deal with or hard to please. Back in my days of working in retail, I remember an old floor manager describing a nasty customer as ornery, and I immediately went and looked up the meaning.

Is It Onery or Ornery?

Ornery vs Onery Ngram
Ornery and onery usage trend.

The correct spelling you should use for the word is “ornery,” not “onery.” Sure, some people might spell it as “onery” because both are technically correct. But “onery” is a variant spelling of the more popular “ornery.”

Ornery Pronunciation

The word “ornery” should be pronounced as or-nr-ree. It’s one of those words that loses all meaning the more you say it.

The Etymology of the Word Ornery

The term “ornery” has its roots in early 1800s American English. It’s said to be a variant of the word “ordinary,” once spelled as “ornary,” because it was used to describe people and things as common or of inferior quality at that time. Today, we’d say “basic.”

But, over time, the meaning of “ornery” vastly evolved across regions to describe someone with a difficult or irritable disposition. It eventually settled on “ornery.”

What Is the Opposite of Ornery?

The opposite meaning of “ornery” would be any word that describes qualities like good-natured, easygoing, or pleasant. Here are a few antonyms you can use.

  • Amiable
  • Affable
  • Good-tempered
  • Agreeable
  • Pleasant
  • Congenial

Ornery Synonyms

  • Cantankerous
  • Cranky
  • Crotchety
  • Grumpy
  • Irascible
  • Rough around the edges
  • Testy
  • Surly

Ornery Examples in a Sentence

Ornery Usage Meaning Examples 1
  • The old man who used to live next door was known for his ornery disposition around the neighborhood, always yelling at kids.
  • Darlene had a nasty reputation for being an ornery boss because she was always demanding perfection from us and rarely showed any appreciation.
  • After a long day of work, my husband was often ornery and hard to deal with, so I convinced him to cut back his hours for his mental health and mine.
  • Ugh, that ornery customer complained about every aspect of the meal, and now the chef is so upset.
  • My brother is so ornery he has a hard time keeping a job because everyone just thinks he’s a jerk.
  • I love this new book I’m reading, but the main character is so ornery. I hope she brightens soon.

Think Positively!

I know ornery looks and sounds like such a funny word, but it’s been around since the 1800s and can still be used to describe someone who’s a massive grump. Play around with it now that you understand the meaning of it, and see how you can work it into every conversation with those around you.

Enjoyed reading about this idiom? Check out some others we covered: