(pronounced KWEHR-yeh-lehs or KWEHR-eh-lehs)

Here’s a more elevated way of saying whiny, anxiously fretful, and regularly disagreeable and complaining.

Example: Though she was excited about how the hotel’s build-out was coming together, Jill dreaded the weekly project meetings with the general contractor’s supervisor because, no matter how smoothly things were going, his querulous nature left her deflated for the rest of the day.