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crony

noun

cro·​ny ˈkrō-nē How to pronounce crony (audio)
plural cronies
Synonyms of cronynext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rockwell and his business cronies turn up in the audience to watch Japanese dynamo Endo (Koto Kawaguchi) wipe the floor with Marty. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025 Yet that’s exactly what South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone did shortly after re-upping their contract with Paramount, right as the company was negotiating a purchase by Skydance — a deal that was believed to come with certain caveats from certain politically motivated cronies. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025 Californians are eager for a new way forward and only a Sheriff can clean up the mess left behind by Newsom and his cronies. Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025 Batman and Gordon sneak into Ace Chemicals and face off against Red Hood and his cronies. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crony

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crony. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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