Definition

Someone who is easily annoyed or difficult to please, often acting in a cranky or whimsical manner.

Example

My crotchety neighbor always complains about the noise from the kids playing outside.

Conversation

Have you noticed how crotchety Mr. Thompson has been lately?

Yeah, he seems to get annoyed by everything these days.

I wonder what happened to make him so crotchety all of a sudden.

Maybe he just needs a break; we all get like that sometimes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Crotchety originates from the dialectal English word 'crotchet', which means a whim or a caprice, and is derived from the Old French 'croche', meaning a hook. The suffix '-y' indicates a characteristic. Thus, 'crotchety' describes someone who is characterized by whims or caprices, often in a grumpy or irritable manner.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'hooked' on their own whims ('crotchet') — that's why 'crotchety' means being grumpy or irritable due to those whims.

Visually Confused Words