kænˈtæŋkəɹəs ˈkɹɒtʃ.ə.tɪ ˈkɹɑ.tʃɨ.ti ˈɔːnəɹi ˈɔːɹnɚi having a difficult and contrary disposition a cantankerous and venomous-tongued old lady stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate unions … have never been as bloody-minded about demarcation as the shipbuilders