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Definition of orneriness

orneriness

/ˈɔːr.nɚ.i.nəs/
or · ner · i · ness
Adverb:ornerily
•
Adjective:ornery
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orneriness Lexical Profile

orneriness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American The quality or state of being bad-tempered, irritable, stubborn, or difficult to deal with.

Example

"The old mule's sheer orneriness made plowing the rocky field an exhausting all-day chore."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

ornate tree snake
ornately
ornateness
orneriness
ornery
ornithogalum
ornithology

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in 19th-century American English from the adjective 'ornery' plus the suffix '-ness'. 'Ornery' itself arose as a dialectal contraction of 'ordinary', which shifted in meaning from 'commonplace' to 'coarse' and eventually 'ill-tempered'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Orneriness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/orneriness
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