OE


grousing, protesting “Cantankerous” means “bad-tempered and argumentative.” Because there is no reversal signal here, you simply need a word that means those things. A good fill-in for the blank would be arguing or complaining. Imputing (attributing or blaming), assaulting (physically attacking), convulsing (suffering violent involuntary contraction of the muscles), and imbibing (drinking) have no relationship.