1
as in crab
an irritable and complaining person
he's always a crank until he has his morning coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
she's a bit of a crank, but still a good-hearted person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
his endless and unpredictable cranks made spending time with him exhausting
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in triumphant
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph
you shouldn't feel so crank, considering that you beat the worst softball team in the league
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in joyful
joyously unrestrained
folks around here are downright crank that a local boy won a gold medal in the Olympics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crank
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Every crank needs a foil, just as every vaccine skeptic benefits from herd immunity.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
James Pearce, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Don’t crank up a van, don’t drop something.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Noun
In 2018, the state legislature passed a law that outlawed the possession and sale of bump stocks, along with trigger cranks and devices that make the gun operate like an automatic weapon.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Every crank needs a foil, just as every vaccine skeptic benefits from herd immunity.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
Whereas Klopp used to crank up the intensity of training in the build-up to matches, Slot has always eased off.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Don’t crank up a van, don’t drop something.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank
Noun
-
Millions of dead red crabs, normally found further south, washed up on local shores, making a stinky mess.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Miso deepens a crab thermidor ($29) festooned in pomelos.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In 2015, Robert Durst, a wealthy eccentric linked to two killings and his wife’s disappearance, was arrested by the FBI in New Orleans on a murder warrant a day before HBO aired the final episode of a serial documentary about his life.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
On her trail are a Báthory relative who is vegetarian (Thomas Schubert), his psychotherapist (Lars Eidinger), two vampirologists, a police inspector and a gallery of eccentrics.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Since when does the city manage its department at the whim of the likes of Al Sharpton and Ben Crump?—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
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In the fifth and final season of The Boys, premiering April 8 on Prime Video, the world completely subject to Homelander’s (Antony Starr) erratic, egomaniacal whims.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
After making a triumphant return to the stage by the Eiffel Tower at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Céline Dion has now officially confirmed her concert comeback.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The stage hosts The Reverent Marigold, Growth Gigs chief Brianna Carmel (of Blooming Heads, Little Tiny Knife and various local projects) and the triumphant return to Sacramento of former local mainstay Autumn Sky Hall.—
Aaron Davis,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
However, Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York - the second most senior bishop in the Church of England - told NPR that the occasion marking Mullally's installation as the archbishop of Canterbury was a joyful one.—
Robbie Griffiths,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Lightweight floral print dresses can be worn under (or over) a collared shirt in a contrasting hue for some joyful juxtaposition.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Cubs went from playing in 100-plus degree weather for over a week in Arizona to wind chills in the upper 20s on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field in their 6-2 win over the Angels.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Those rural Black voters are concentrated east of the triangle, extending along winding state highways through small towns, flatlands and farmland toward the Atlantic coastline.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
YumEarth makes organic lollipops, gummy bears and fruit snacks with no artificial dyes.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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The walls disappeared into a forest of trees, where live monkeys and at least one bear lurked behind the trunks.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Constipation Increase your fiber intake with whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Noting that discussion of the gas-tax rebate has disappeared at the Capitol, Candelora said he had not been summoned to the governor’s office for a nuts-and-bolts meeting on how and when the gasoline tax could be cut.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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