querulous

UK: /ˈkwɛrjʊləs/, /ˈkwɛrʊləs/

US: /ˈkwɛrələs, ˈkwɛrjə-/

US: (kwer′ə ləs, kwer′yə-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

quer•u•lous /ˈkwɛrələs, ˈkwɛryə-/   adj. 

1. full of complaints;
   complaining;
   criticizing:
   badgered by querulous students.
2. characterized by or uttered in complaint:
   querulous demands.

quer•u•lous•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

quer•u•lous  (kwer′ə ləs, kwer′yə-), adj. 

1. full of complaints;
   complaining.
2. characterized by or uttered in complaint;
   peevish:
   a querulous tone; constant querulous reminders of things to be done.

• Latin querulus, equivalent. to quer(ī) to complain + -ulus -ulous
• 1490–1500

quer′u•lous•ly, adv. 
quer′u•lous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. petulant, testy; caviling, carping, discontented.

Antonyms

• 1. contented.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

querulous / ˈkwɛrʊləs ˈkwɛrjʊ-/ adjective

1. inclined to make whining or peevish complaints
2. characterized by or proceeding from a complaining fretful attitude or disposition

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin querulus from querī to complain

ˈquerulously adverb

ˈquerulousness noun