Cantankerously

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner characterized by stubbornness and ill-temper, one displays a tendency towards quarrelsomeness and irritability in interactions with others
2. When exhibiting behaviors that are irritable and contentious, an individual often engages in disputes or arguments with others in a disagreeable fashion
3. Acting in a way that shows a difficult and combative disposition, a person often creates conflicts and demonstrates a lack of cooperation or amiability

Etymology: Cantankerously is an adverb built from "cantankerous" and the common suffix "-ly", which turns an adjective into a word describing how something is done. The suffix has a long pedigree: it descends from an Old English form "-līċe", ultimately tracing back through Proto-Germanic to a root meaning "body" or "form", the same idea behind the English word "like" in its older sense of "having the appearance of." So a person behaving cantankerously is, in the deepest sense, acting in a manner that has the look of a quarrelsome character. The base word "cantankerous" is the more interesting piece, but its origin is hard to pin down, and I'd rather not offer a confident story where the record is thin. What is clear is that the adjective describes a temperament: stubborn, contrary, and ready to argue. Adding "-ly" simply lets you describe the manner of an action, so someone who speaks, reacts, or refuses to cooperate can be said to do so cantankerously.

Synonyms: grumpily, irascibly, bad-temperedly

Antonyms: cheerfully, pleasantly, amicably