querulous

adjective

ˈkwer-yə-ləs How to pronounce querulous (audio)
Definition of querulousnext
as in restless
given to complaining a lot car trips that were frequently spoiled by a couple of querulous passengers in the back

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of querulous One came across as a quiet, reserved, eloquent, thoughtful force of nature; the other as a boisterous, querulous, troublemaking and sometimes thoughtless and mean force of nature. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2022 Today those late, querulous paintings are counted among the most influential American artworks of the twentieth century. — Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 14 Jan. 2021 Brian Frutiger’s edgy tenor perfectly suits the querulous Dr. Caius. — Dallas News, 2 Aug. 2022 Against a long and attenuated trill of the viola, Mehretu’s backgrounds become a lurid green or mysterious blue and the black lines of the paintings start to look more querulous. — Jason Farago, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2022 See All Example Sentences for querulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for querulous
  1. restless
  2. irritable
  3. grumpy
  4. grouchy
  5. nervous
  6. dissatisfied
  7. crabby
Adjective
  • But not on this recent Wednesday — because the herd is restless.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
  • After a restless night while a thunderstorm raged outside, Tess and Anna wake up not as themselves, but as two 14-year-old girls, Harper and Lily.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • Though most people benefit from eating more fiber, some may need to temporarily reduce their fiber intake to help their digestive system heal, such as during a flare-up of irritable bowel disease (IBD), diverticulitis, or Crohn’s disease.4 3.
    — Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Tornado Alley is a strip from Nebraska to Texas known for irritable weather systems.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • Based on grumpy Google reviews, an online warning would have been appreciated.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.
    — Eric Francisco, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of grumpy
Adjective
  • The only people who can help Sara and Devin are Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), a grouchy mountain man, and Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a mute Shoshone girl fleeing her own violent past.
    — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The fans who booed last week at Gillette Stadium seemed more grouchy than outraged.
    — Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of grouchy
Adjective
  • Mitch [Hurwitz, the show creator] was very nervous.
    — Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Trump won't be on the ballot again, but this week had to make a lot of Republicans who will be very nervous.
    — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • Many parents are dissatisfied with the public schools their children are assigned to, but their options are often limited by the availability of private school options and their ability to afford tuition.
    — Andrew Wimer, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The women were dissatisfied with the handling of the complaint made with Brookfield police, so one of them contacted an individual who was with the Danbury Police Department, the lawsuit said.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of dissatisfied
Adjective
  • Take the Lishman’s Deli sketch, in which Murphy’s Gumby character — the green clay stop-motion figure reimagined as a crabby Borscht Belt has-been — trades insults with a gang of alter kockers played by Crystal, Guest and Short, who reminisce and argue about sandwiches named for celebrities.
    — James Poniewozik, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
  • California’s crabby conundrum Dungeness crabs are plucked from the Pacific to use for sushi rolls, salads and their namesake cakes.
    — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Definition of crabby

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“Querulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/querulous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

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