Cross-grained

Characterized by a difficult or contrary nature; tending to be uncooperative, stubborn, and argumentative. This term often describes someone who is habitually resistant to advice, suggestions, or directions. It can also be used to describe something that is difficult to manage or work with, creating resistance or obstacles. The root of the word implies a grain or texture that runs in a different direction than expected, causing friction and requiring extra effort. The implication is often that this nature is deeply ingrained and not easily changed. It applies to both people and things.

Cross-grained meaning with examples

• Despite his manager's detailed plan, Tom was cross-grained, constantly finding fault and refusing to participate constructively. His tendency to challenge every suggestion disrupted the team's workflow, causing delays and frustration. His cross-grained approach to problem-solving made it difficult to make any meaningful progress or foster any kind of cooperation, leading to friction between him and his colleagues.
• The old engine was notoriously cross-grained; it would stall constantly and refuse to start without a specific sequence of rituals. The mechanic spent hours wrestling with it, finding the outdated design and the engine's unpredictable behavior exceptionally difficult to understand. The cross-grained nature of the engine made it a frustrating and unpredictable machine, causing significant problems for anyone who relied upon its use.
• Her cross-grained personality made her unpopular in the neighborhood. She would always find reasons to complain, disagree with any community decision, and reject any efforts to connect with her. The other residents had tried to extend the olive branch, but they were met with hostility. Her negative disposition made a difficult social environment for everyone.
• Trying to edit the software was a cross-grained process. The code was poorly documented, confusingly structured, and contained numerous bugs. Even basic changes required extensive workarounds and debugging, and every update created new problems. Its stubborn resistance to any improvement made the entire system time-consuming and costly.