cranky

[ krang-kee ]

/ ˈkræŋ ki /

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See synonyms for: cranky / crankiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, crank·i·er, crank·i·est.

ill-tempered; grouchy; cross: I'm always cranky when I don't get enough sleep.

eccentric; queer.

shaky; unsteady; out of order.

full of bends or windings; crooked.

British Dialect. sickly; in unsound or feeble condition; infirm.

OTHER WORDS FOR cranky

1 crotchety, cantankerous, perverse.

See synonyms for cranky on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of cranky

First recorded in 1780–90; crank¹ + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM cranky

crank·i·ly, adverbcrank·i·ness, noun

Other definitions for cranky (2 of 2)

cranky²

[ krang-kee ]

/ ˈkræŋ ki /

adjective Nautical.

crank² (def. 1).

Origin of cranky

First recorded in 1835–45; crank² + -y¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cranky in a sentence

Don’t be that cranky neighbor who grumbles at the sight of any snowflakes.
Best snow shovel: Clear your driveway fast|PopSci Commerce Team|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
Life gets cranky when you try to live it according to some schedule, like married by 26 and billionaire by 30 and whatever else we’re supposed to tick off the list.
Carolyn Hax: When turning 30 becomes an existential crisis|Carolyn Hax|January 1, 2021|Washington Post
In hopes of a discovering weaponry farther afield, I repeatedly tried to get the cranky thing to loft me up on the bridge.
‘Bugsnax’ is charming and funny, but sapped by vexing gameplay|Harold Goldberg|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
Nursing helped to assuage injuries, fatigue, crankiness, and even sickness.
The Bogus Breastfeeding Debate Over Nursing Older Kids|Diane Wiessinger|May 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The test of "crankiness," then, lies in the adequacy of the advantage reaped.
International Language|Walter J. Clark
An admirable epitome of what might be called “advanced health culture without crankiness.”
The Healthy Life, Vol. V, Nos. 24-28|Various
With an old maid's usual crankiness and inability to adapt herself to the order of things, Cousin Fanny remained behind.
The Burial of the Guns|Thomas Nelson Page
But, at least, it was interesting crankiness, and the belief behind it made it even fascinating.
Four Weird Tales|Algernon Blackwood
Despite the happy-juice in my bloodstream, a streak of uncastmemberly crankiness was shot through my mood.
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom|Cory Doctorow

British Dictionary definitions for cranky (1 of 2)

cranky¹

/ (ˈkræŋkɪ) /

adjective crankier or crankiest

informal eccentric

mainly US, Canadian and Irish informal fussy and bad-tempered

shaky; out of order

full of bends and turns

dialect unwell

Derived forms of cranky

crankily, adverbcrankiness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for cranky (2 of 2)

cranky²

/ (ˈkræŋkɪ) /

adjective crankier or crankiest

nautical another word for crank 2

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cranky

OTHER WORDS FOR cranky

Origin of cranky

OTHER WORDS FROM cranky

Other definitions for cranky (2 of 2)

Origin of cranky

Words related to cranky

How to use cranky in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cranky (1 of 2)

Derived forms of cranky

British Dictionary definitions for cranky (2 of 2)