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
Placing cronies on the Board of Governors and influencing state university hiring decisions.
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Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
The mayor could install one of his cronies who has no experience in running a large transit agency like the CTA.
—Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
For the past several months, the Trump administration has routinely dispatched various cronies to Greenland and even directed its intelligence agencies to increase surveillance of the Greenlandic independence movement and attitudes toward American mining interests.
—Morten Høi Jensen, The Dial, 19 June 2025
The current president and his cronies are openly selling out our country to the highest bidders and attempting to destroy our free press and institutions, all while enriching themselves.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crony
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
The mayor could install one of his cronies who has no experience in running a large transit agency like the CTA.
—Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
For the past several months, the Trump administration has routinely dispatched various cronies to Greenland and even directed its intelligence agencies to increase surveillance of the Greenlandic independence movement and attitudes toward American mining interests.
—Morten Høi Jensen, The Dial, 19 June 2025
The current president and his cronies are openly selling out our country to the highest bidders and attempting to destroy our free press and institutions, all while enriching themselves.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crony
Cite this Entry
“Crony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crony. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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