Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Cantankerous /kăn-tăng'-kẽr-əs/ · Can·tan·ker·ous · IPA /kænˈtæŋkəɹəs/ 01 a. Perverse; contentious; ugly; malicious. 1. Perverse; contentious; ugly; malicious.[Colloq.] “The cantankerous old maiden aunt.” — Thackeray.