ornery streak
Tendency toward cantankerousness
An ornery streak is a persistent tendency toward stubbornness, contrariness, or difficult behavior that surfaces repeatedly in someone's character.
The streak suggests it's not constant but runs through the personality like a vein: He's got an ornery streak that comes out when he's tired.
Someone with an ornery streak may be generally agreeable but reliably cantankerous under certain conditions.
- stubbornRefusing to change course
- stubborn as a muleExtremely obstinate comparison
- cantankerousBad-tempered and argumentative
- contraryOpposed in nature
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
cussedness · defiant · willful · headstrong · chip on shoulder · feisty · prickly · rough around the edges · grumpy · curmudgeon · mule · rebellious · temperamental · difficult · hard to handle · hardheaded · belligerent · scrappy
ornery streaksweet disposition
gentle nature · mild manner · sunny disposition · good nature · warmth
ornery streakcooperative spirit
Willingness to work together
docile temperament · tractability · docility · agreeableness · pliability