Crotchety describes someone who is grumpy, irritable, and easily annoyed, especially an older person who complains about small things. A crotchety neighbor might yell at kids for playing too loudly or grumble about how “things were better in the old days.” A crotchety teacher might snap at students for minor mistakes like forgetting a pencil.

The word usually applies to people whose bad mood seems constant rather than temporary. Everyone has bad days, but a crotchety person seems perpetually cranky. You might have a crotchety relative who complains about the food at every family dinner, or encounter a crotchety bus driver who mutters disapprovingly at passengers.

Interestingly, crotchety people often aren't truly mean. They're more like Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street: grouchy and complainy, but not actually harmful. The word carries a slightly humorous tone, as if we recognize that the person's irritability is more bark than bite. Still, being around someone crotchety can be exhausting. Their constant complaints and irritation can make ordinary situations feel tense and uncomfortable, like walking on eggshells around someone who might snap at any moment.