1
: difficult to deal with
her husband's self-absorbed and cross-grained natureLance Morrow
2
: having the grain or fibers running diagonally, transversely, or irregularly

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-grained was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near cross-grained

Cite this Entry

“Cross-grained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-grained. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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