crankier; crankiest
1
a
: given to fretful fussiness : readily angered when opposed : crotchety
Our long wait … left us a tad cranky.—
Connecticut
Connecticut
b
: marked by eccentricity
… his bizarre and cranky mix of ideas and beliefs …—R. J. Evans
R. J. Evans2
: full of twists and turns : tortuous
a cranky road
3
: working erratically : unpredictable
a cranky old tractor
of a boat
Synonyms
Examples of cranky in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
that old typewriter is handy sometimes, but rather cranky these days
the baby was cranky after not being fed for hours
if cranky children don't appreciate what they already have, then they shouldn't get a thing more
that's just another of his cranky theories about the CIA
the man would inflict on innocent bystanders his cranky ruminations on world events
Recent Examples on the WebHannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
Interesting pair of characters, interesting binary moment for the nation: cranky old McCain the war hero, unpredictable, unsteady perhaps, rumbling around the country on the Straight Talk Express (his bus)—and handsome young Obama, the anointed, the noble profile with his arena-swelling cadences.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
The latter was about a cranky guy who finds himself, against his will, looking after a gaggle of adorable kids.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
Let my cranky cat out of the basement and give him some cuddles, then tidy up the kitchen and wash some dishes.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cranky 
Adjective
Joo Won Kang perfectly embodies Rocco, Marcellina’s prison guard father, roughing up his enveloping baritone with cranky gruffness whenever it was called for.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
Interesting pair of characters, interesting binary moment for the nation: cranky old McCain the war hero, unpredictable, unsteady perhaps, rumbling around the country on the Straight Talk Express (his bus)—and handsome young Obama, the anointed, the noble profile with his arena-swelling cadences.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
The latter was about a cranky guy who finds himself, against his will, looking after a gaggle of adorable kids.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
Let my cranky cat out of the basement and give him some cuddles, then tidy up the kitchen and wash some dishes.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cranky
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cranky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to cranky
Dictionary Entries Near cranky
Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranky. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share