querulous
- Habitually complaining, whining, or finding fault in a petulant, fretful way.
In a sentence
- The querulous passenger complained about everything from the seat width to the cabin temperature.
- Her querulous tone made it difficult for colleagues to bring her constructive feedback.
Usage note. Unlike 'critical', which can be neutral or positive, 'querulous' always implies an irritating or unreasonable habit of complaining; it carries a distinctly negative connotation.
Where it comes from
English querulous · entered English late 15th c.
From Latin 'querulus' (complaining, whining), derived from 'queri' (to complain or lament). It entered English in the late 15th century, and shares its root with 'quarrel' and 'querulous'.