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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5
as in psychotic
dialect
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind
the man would inflict on innocent bystanders his cranky ruminations on world events
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of cranky
Its service style is antithetical to cranky Canter’s.
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Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
This stretch of Fifth has comparatively few residents to be cranky about it (beyond a couple of notable mixed-use towers), and virtually no curbside parking to argue about, perhaps defanging the opposition somewhat.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024
Underneath that, though, the episode builds to a bigger reveal, as the filibuster becomes about more than a cranky politician.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
The late Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, who could be pretty cranky himself about various aspects of the Dead’s world, music, and culture, had no issues acknowledging Lesh’s presence.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cranky 
Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
This stretch of Fifth has comparatively few residents to be cranky about it (beyond a couple of notable mixed-use towers), and virtually no curbside parking to argue about, perhaps defanging the opposition somewhat.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024
Underneath that, though, the episode builds to a bigger reveal, as the filibuster becomes about more than a cranky politician.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
The late Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, who could be pretty cranky himself about various aspects of the Dead’s world, music, and culture, had no issues acknowledging Lesh’s presence.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cranky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranky
Adjective
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Far from prolific in front of goal, the Senegalese looked out of sorts, full of running and hunger to score but clumsy, his anxious limbs snatching at chances rather than taking them naturally.Henry Flynn, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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The first few episodes were rife with clumsy and, at times, confusing time jumps, many that seemed tacked on to preexisting scenes in an effort to retrofit them for a new, Costner-less reality.Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Even if a more irritable side of her personality has emerged, there’s no excuse for cruelty.R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
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In worst-case scenarios, pain can cause a dog to be more irritable and aggressive, like if a human had a severe headache and couldn't tolerate social interaction, Enomoto said.Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Recalling Lyme disease and other issues In July of 2018, Mangione posted online about health issues, including having restless sleep.Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
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Related Video Jennie Reveals How Cold-Plunging Loosens Up Her Muscles and Opens Up Her Mind By 2020, Waight Keller had begun to grow restless at Givenchy.Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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An Instax camera snaps photos throughout the night, the shots progressively funnier the more nog is consumed.Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
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Crandell, the Harvard physiatrist, is a funny, brainy, and upbeat clinician who treats people with amputations in the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, a building overlooking Boston Harbor.Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
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Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.Thomas Saccente, Arkansas Online, 17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Fentanyl abuse isn't the only opioid that can cause the awkward body reaction, Ciccarone said.James Ward, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
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Read More: The Surprising Benefits of Talking Out Loud to Yourself Things might feel a little awkward during those early sessions, and that's normal, says Grant.Perri Ormont Blumberg, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The show has a cast of six, only one of whom (Jef Canter as the grumpy co-worker Charlie) has raced the stage of Playhouse on Park before.Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024
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His delightful memoir about island living, the joys of collecting, and the relentless passage of time delivers effortless humor and grumpy wisdom.The Week US, theweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Her material consists of tales of her bizarre upbringing, highly unconventional family, and filterless confessions of her time on this filthy planet.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024
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Red One seemed like a bizarre experiment, some sort of action film-adjacent Santa Claus movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans that almost seemed to be a sort of parody of itself.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranky. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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