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 WebMatt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 June 2024
Eric Bogosian, who plays the entertainingly cranky Daniel in the present-day interview scenes, might be the most familiar name in the cast.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2024
Stop publishing letters from cranky old Voicers complaining about these things despite never doing anything about them (well, except for mine)!
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2024
Leaving it behind means arriving at your destination tired, probably cranky, and with a sore neck that could linger throughout the first days of your trip.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for cranky 
Adjective
And cranky cat Chowder can’t help complicating everything.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 June 2024
Eric Bogosian, who plays the entertainingly cranky Daniel in the present-day interview scenes, might be the most familiar name in the cast.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2024
Stop publishing letters from cranky old Voicers complaining about these things despite never doing anything about them (well, except for mine)!
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2024
Leaving it behind means arriving at your destination tired, probably cranky, and with a sore neck that could linger throughout the first days of your trip.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 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.
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Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranky. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
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