o'n'ry

Adjective

ornery (comparative ornerier, superlative orneriest)

1. (Appalachia, especially, informal) Disagreeable, stubborn, and troublesome to deal with; cantankerous.
   • Seemingly here was an intruder who was violating custom. Moreover, the partners had come to look upon this exceedingly rich district as their exclusive property. And so their indignation was extreme. "The low-down, ornery cuss!" said Dobbs. "The nerve of him, crowdin' in on us, just as if there...1922 November 25, A[rthur] M[urray] Chisholm, “A Thousand a Plate. Chapter II.”, in Western Story Magazine, volume XXX, number 4, New York, N.Y.: Street & Smith, →OCLC, page 90, column 2

   Synonyms:

   contrary, crabby, cross-grained, crotchety, honery, ill-tempered, intractable, obnoxious, obstreperous, peevish

2. (US, general, humorous, informal) Troublesome to deal with in a good way; mischievous, prankish, teasing.

   Synonyms:

   full of the devil

3. (obsolete) Ordinary, commonplace; hence, inferior, plain-looking, unpleasant.