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Cantankerous vs Heartless - What's the difference?

cantankerous | heartless | Related terms |

Cantankerous is a related term of heartless.


As adjectives the difference between cantankerous and heartless

is that cantankerous is given to or marked by an ill-tempered nature, ill-tempered, cranky, surly, crabby while heartless is without a heart; specifically, without feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring.

cantankerous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • given to or marked by an ill-tempered nature, ill-tempered, cranky, surly, crabby.
  • * 1839 , Fraser's magazine for town and country, Volume 20, p618
    • she is a cantankerous old maid fretting and snarling over the loss of her beauty.
  • * 1866 Every Saturday, Volume 2, p355
    • The great principle on which the privileges of cantankerous folly and ill-nature found is this: that as we go on through life we grow somewhat cowardly; and if a thing be disagreeable, we just keep out of its way: sometimes by rather shabby expedients.
  • * 1947 , John Courtenay Trewin, Plays of the year: Volume 47, 195
    • I am being cantankerous'''. Some days I feel so '''cantankerous I could take a machine-gun into the streets and shoot down the whole population of Hendon Central; I don't know why.
  • * 1998 , Pauline Chazan, The moral self, 80
    • By contrast, cantankerous and churlish people are contemptuously independent of others’ opinions, not caring enough about others and their views.
  • * 2004 , 386 F. 3d 192 - Jacques v. Dimarzio Inc
    • The cantankerous are those "marked by ill humor, irritability, and determination to disagree." Webster's New International Dictionary 328 (3d ed.1986).
  • * 2004 , 386 F. 3d 192 - Jacques v. Dimarzio Inc
    • All things being equal, a cantankerous person or a curmudgeon would be more secure by becoming more unpleasant.
  • * 2007 , Linda Francis Lee, The Devil in the Junior League, p44
    • Nina was thrilled, muttering her cantankerous joy that I was getting out of the house.
  • * from where is this quotation?
    • The cantankerous landlord always grumbled when asked to fix something.
  • * 2010 ,
    • Unfortunately, as Great-Aunt Bert could be a bit cantankerous , they were having to be creative
    Note: Cantankerous is generally used to describe an unpleasant elderly person in a slightly pejorative manner. However, the term can be used to people in general, livestock, and machinery as well.

    heartless

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Without a heart; specifically, without feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring.
    • His heartless actions and cold manner left her saddened and feeling alone.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=April 29 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992) citation , page= , passage=Mr. Burns is similarly perfectly cast as a heartless capitalist willing to do anything for a quick buck, even if it means endangering the lives of those around him and Marge elegantly rounds out the main cast as a good, pure-hearted and overly indulgent woman who sees the big, good heart (literally and metaphorically) of a monstrous man-brute. }}

    Derived terms

    * heartlessly * heartlessness

    Anagrams

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