What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ornery
Example
The ornery old man refused to speak to anyone. [ornery: adjective]
Example
She has an ornery streak that makes her hard to work with. [ornery: noun]
grumpy
Example
He woke up feeling grumpy and didn't want to talk to anyone. [grumpy: adjective]
Example
Don't mind him, he's just being grumpy today. [grumpy: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Grumpy is more commonly used than ornery in everyday language, and is more widely recognized across English-speaking countries. Ornery is a regionalism from the American South and Midwest, and may not be as familiar to ESL learners.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ornery and grumpy?
Neither ornery nor grumpy are particularly formal words, and both are more appropriate for casual or informal situations. However, ornery may be considered more colloquial or regional in some contexts.
