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
crank·i·ness
ˈkraŋ-kē-nəs 
plural -es
: the quality or state of being cranky: such as
a
: irritable or unreasonable temper
the fussy crankiness of the dyspeptic
b
: emotional or intellectual perversity or idiosyncrasy
the reader can sometimes glimpse a sort of perverse … crankiness at work—Canadian Forum
Canadian ForumExamples 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 Web
Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
What started as a cranky shoulder in spring is a growing concern, given a slow recovery track and recent setback.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 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
Two of the crankiest cultures in the world coming together in a commuting catastrophe.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cranky
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Adjective
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
What started as a cranky shoulder in spring is a growing concern, given a slow recovery track and recent setback.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 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
Two of the crankiest cultures in the world coming together in a commuting catastrophe.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranky. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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