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
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 Web
Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Lauren Michele Jackson, cultural critic, New Yorker staffer, and the author of White Negroes, finally weighed in with the One Battle After Another review this cranky sue has been waiting for.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
As the frontman of the Pogues, he was heralded for his cranky, often tongue-in-cheek delivery of songs about the misadventures of Ireland’s residents.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Who knew that Big 12 Conference expansion would increase the number of cranky people covering the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments?
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cranky
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Adjective
People get cranky with the change.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Lauren Michele Jackson, cultural critic, New Yorker staffer, and the author of White Negroes, finally weighed in with the One Battle After Another review this cranky sue has been waiting for.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
As the frontman of the Pogues, he was heralded for his cranky, often tongue-in-cheek delivery of songs about the misadventures of Ireland’s residents.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Who knew that Big 12 Conference expansion would increase the number of cranky people covering the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments?
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 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 20 Mar. 2026.
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