ill-natured

adjective

ill-na·​tured ˈil-ˈnā-chərd 

1

: having a bad disposition : cross, surly

2

: malevolent, spiteful

ill-naturedly adverb

Synonyms

• acid
• bearish
• bilious
• bloody-minded [chiefly British]
• cantankerous
• disagreeable
• dyspeptic
• ill-humored
• ill-tempered
• ornery
• splenetic
• surly

Examples of ill-natured in a Sentence

an ill-natured and unpleasant old horse that sometimes bites

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

ill-natured

adjective

ill-na·​tured

ˈil-ˈnā-chərd

: having a bad disposition : surly

is usually ill-natured in the morning until after breakfast

ill-naturedly adverb