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
Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
Weird, but not nearly as weird as sidekick comedian Richard King pretending to be cranky KISS bassist Gene Simmons for a whole episode a few weeks ago.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 May 2025
His schedule was previously delayed by a cranky back.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Thomas had a long and prolific career, right up to his final years, despite his health woes and a famously cranky personality that could curdle soup across the room.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cranky
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Adjective
Many modern parents are more likely to soothe a cranky baby with a smartphone than a pacifier.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
Weird, but not nearly as weird as sidekick comedian Richard King pretending to be cranky KISS bassist Gene Simmons for a whole episode a few weeks ago.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 May 2025
His schedule was previously delayed by a cranky back.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Thomas had a long and prolific career, right up to his final years, despite his health woes and a famously cranky personality that could curdle soup across the room.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranky. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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