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Petulant vs Ornery - What's the difference?

petulant | ornery |

In obsolete terms the difference between petulant and ornery

is that petulant is forward; pert; insolent; wanton while ornery is commonplace, inferior.

As adjectives the difference between petulant and ornery

is that petulant is childishly irritable while ornery is cantankerous, stubborn, disagreeable.

petulant

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • childishly irritable
    • Lack of sleep is causing Dave's recent petulant behavior.
  • (obsolete) forward; pert; insolent; wanton.
    • (Burton)

    Synonyms

    * huffy * snappish * irritable * grouchy * bad-tempered * ill-tempered * crabby

    Antonyms

    * easygoing

    ornery

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (Appalachian) Cantankerous, stubborn, disagreeable.
  • * 1990 . , Rabbit at Rest
    • “Grandpa, what’s ‘ornery’?” / “Oh, you know. Mean. Contrary. Rebellious.”
  • * 1939 . From the Script of (1939)
    • Curley: "I ain't sayin' I don't share your sentiments, Buck, but you're a born fool. First place Luke would kill the Kid in a gun-fight. Second place if Luke did get shot he's got two brothers just as ornery as he is, and if Ike Plummer didn't kill the Kid then Hank Plummer would."
  • (humorous, Southern US) Mischievous, prankish, teasing, disagreeable but in a good way.
  • (obsolete) Commonplace, inferior.

    • Derived terms

    * ornerily * orneriness