crony

noun

cro·​ny ˈkrō-nē How to pronounce crony (audio)
plural cronies
: a close friend usually of long standing : pal
played golf with his cronies
often, specifically : a person who unfairly receives special treatment see also cronyism, crony capitalism

Examples of crony in a Sentence

The mayor rewarded his cronies with high-paying jobs after he was elected. the criminal's cronies were also closely questioned about the illegal gambling operation
Recent Examples on the Web Harris has made similar overtures to the working class as Trump by attempting to brand him as a crony for billionaires, as well as with policy proposals, including her plan to expand the child tax credit. Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Sep. 2024 But even Brazil, a rising power that prides itself on its diplomatic prowess, has struggled to bring Maduro and his cronies to the negotiating table. Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2024 For those who haven’t recognized the callous opportunism inherent to Donald Trump and his cronies, perhaps The Penguin’s putrid embodiment of those traits will nudge them closer to seeing one hideous monster in the other. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024 All abuse power—telling propagandistic lies, breaking the law, rigging political institutions, empowering cronies, and unleashing violence—to achieve political dominance. Ferdinand Mount, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for crony 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crony.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Greek chronios long-lasting, from chronos time

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crony was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near crony

Cite this Entry

“Crony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crony. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

crony

noun
cro·​ny ˈkrō-nē How to pronounce crony (audio)
plural cronies
: a close companion : pal
politicians who get jobs for their cronies

More from Merriam-Webster on crony

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