Synonyms of crank

crank 1 of 3

noun

ˈkraŋk 

1

as in crab

an irritable and complaining person

he's always a crank until he has his morning coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crab
• bear
• complainer
• mutterer
• curmudgeon
• hunks
• grump
• grouser
• sourpuss
• kicker
• growler
• griper
• grumbler
• whiner
• grouch
• fusser
• murmurer
• crosspatch
• bellyacher
• sorehead
• killjoy
• party pooper
• spoilsport
• defeatist
• pessimist
• quibbler
• hypochondriac
• grinch
• crock
• faultfinder
• nitpicker
• nagger
• malcontent
• objector
• repiner

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• optimist
• Pollyanna
• happy camper

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

• eccentric
• nut
• character
• original
• crackpot
• flake
• piece of work
• screwball
• weirdo
• kook
• crack
• oddball
• wacko
• codger
• loony
• nutter
• fruitcake
• maverick
• freak
• loon
• nutcase
• head case
• rarity
• zany
• odd duck
• quiz
• crackbrain
• oddity
• bohemian
• geezer
• coot
• nonconformist
• quixote
• curio
• fantast
• fantastico

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sheep
• follower
• conformer
• conformist

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

• whim
• freak
• bee
• kink
• caprice
• notion
• maggot
• fancy
• impression
• humor
• whimsy
• vagrancy
• vagary
• megrim
• image
• thought
• fantasy
• bee in one's bonnet
• picture
• concept
• fancifulness
• capriciousness
• freakishness
• whimsicality
• impetuosity
• conceit
• conception
• inspiration
• brainstorm
• mind's eye

crank

2 of 3

adjective

chiefly dialect

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• triumphant
• proud
• ecstatic
• arrogant
• exultant
• jubilant
• rejoicing
• crowing
• exulting
• glorying
• prideful
• cock-a-hoop
• victorious
• euphoric
• cocky
• boastful
• winning
• elated
• conquering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• defeated
• depressed
• downcast
• disconsolate
• dispirited
• dejected
• crestfallen

2

as in joyful

joyously unrestrained

folks around here are downright crank that a local boy won a gold medal in the Olympics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• joyful
• lively
• bubbly
• exuberant
• lyric
• gay
• frolic
• bouncy
• effervescent
• buoyant
• frolicsome
• giddy
• ecstatic
• vivacious
• outgoing
• uninhibited
• gamesome
• bold
• silly
• high-spirited
• raucous
• extroverted
• rowdy
• boisterous
• rollicking
• sprightly
• lighthearted
• carefree
• rapturous
• impudent
• brazen
• insouciant
• saucy
• insolent
• euphoric
• overexuberant
• brash
• impertinent
• happy-go-lucky
• audacious
• light-headed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sullen
• repressed
• inhibited
• restrained
• subdued
• constrained
• depressed
• stolid
• phlegmatic
• low-spirited
• impassive
• surly
• stoic
• morose
• dour
• glum

crank

3 of 3

verb

as in to wind

Related Words

• wind
• reel
• coil
• screw
• circulate
• twiddle
• spin
• rotate
• wheel
• unscrew
• pivot
• revolve
• turn
• swirl
• swivel
• swing
• roll
• twist
• whirl
• twirl

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crank

Noun

Trump cranks heat on Warsh Friday’s comments show Trump resuming his pressure campaign against the Fed, which had eased since the appointment of Warsh, his handpicked successor to Jerome Powell. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026

Even at low speeds, the model variant’s flat-crank V-8 feels alive and brimming with 8,300 rpm of possibility. — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

The Labor Day-to-Memorial Day schedule would also ease the summertime strain on the electric grid because schools wouldn’t have to crank up their air conditioners for as long to keep hundreds of students and teachers cool, Patterson argued. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2026

The conditions are outstanding for Soderstrom to crank a home run tonight. — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing crank

• crank (up)