1. bad-tempered and difficult to deal with; grumpy and irritable

Examples

• The curmudgeonly old man complained about everything from the weather to the noise.
• Despite his curmudgeonly reputation, he secretly helped many people in the neighborhood.
• She had a curmudgeonly attitude toward new technology and refused to use smartphones.
• The professor’s curmudgeonly behavior made students nervous about asking questions.
• His curmudgeonly remarks about modern music annoyed his younger colleagues.
• The store owner was known for his curmudgeonly responses to customer complaints.