cranky

adjective

ˈkraŋ-kē How to pronounce cranky (audio)
Definition of crankynext
1
as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design that old typewriter is handy sometimes, but rather cranky these days

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2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed the baby was cranky after not being fed for hours

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3
as in restless
given to complaining a lot if cranky children don't appreciate what they already have, then they shouldn't get a thing more

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4
as in funny
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion that's just another of his cranky theories about the CIA

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cranky Strangely, no one seems to notice until cranky, grieving widower Sam (Alfred Molina) moves in. — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 Dennis’s new poems are still conversational, philosophical, sometimes preachy, and cranky, and there is a fresh kind of transcendence here, one that has almost forgotten about disappointment. — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026 For example, check-in slowed by a cranky ankle was met with a surprise delivery of a bag of ice, while an inquiry into a local attraction was answered with immediate directions and a follow-up printout of the schedule. — Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 But in the meantime, add this tech-device sticker shock to the pile of other inflationary drivers — the price at the pump, noticeably higher grocery bills, rising housing costs (especially in Chicago) — making people cranky. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cranky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranky
  1. clumsy
  2. irritable
  3. restless
  4. funny
  5. awkward
  6. grumpy
  7. bizarre
  8. cumbersome
Adjective
  • Such a feature would neatly get around the need for clumsy remote control sessions to interact with AI agents running on a distant Mac.
    — Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • The symptoms are so delayed that people often blame them on food poisoning, irritable-bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance.
    — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • The London trio updates the naive humanism of 2000s indie-folk with modern dread and restless experimentation on its ambitious full-length debut.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 July 2026
  • Her book is a panoramic, abundantly detailed history of a century of turmoil and restless migratory movements gravitating around El Paso.
    — Julia Preston, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • The obligatory army of A-list funny people (Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle operating at minimal annoyingness) assembles to praise him in this two-part doc from directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • The spunky comedy streaming service couldn’t hit the mainstream enough to attract voters, despite some very funny programming.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • Human bodies were like animals’ The few medical instruments of the revolutionary era were heavy in the hand, awkward in use and imprecise to maneuver.
    — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • In its place are itty-bitty bands that still keep your flats or heels in place, just with less of a chance of awkward tan lines.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 1 July 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • Today, be patient with family members, especially parents and older relatives, because people are in a stern, strict and grumpy mood.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
  • Where genius creator and grumpy granddad Rick might take collective hivemind Unity as a lover on a faraway planet, President Curtis is more likely to be found hunting the Loch Ness Monster or the Hodag on Earth, or travelling to the moon.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of grumpy
Adjective
  • When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
    — Sam McDowell Updated July 3, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • Continue reading … 'DEEPLY WEIRD' — CNN panel's bizarre 'read as Jewish' comment about a senator draws fierce blowback.
    — , FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • Moving fast and smart – as an efficiency first strategy enables – is the winner as compared to the more cumbersome and costly conventional approach.
    — Kathleen “Katie” McGinty, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • For example, in tenant onboarding, using AI to automatically auto-fill and email a 50-page PDF lease just speeds up the generation of a static, cumbersome document that still requires manual follow-ups.
    — Ali Hoss, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of cumbersome

Browse Nearby Words

crank (up)
cranky
crannies
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Cite this Entry

“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranky. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of cranky for Spanish Speakers

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