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
New Atlas, 8 May 2026
Her octopus was named Marcellus McSquiddles, an aging crank who notes his days of captivity in a Puget Sound aquarium as if on death row, but also recognizes the night janitor, Tova, is lonely and grieving.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
John Meyer, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
April is typically Florida’s driest month, and as temperatures increase, rainfall lags behind plants’ water needs so people tend to crank up their irrigation.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Noun
That engine produces around 400 hp at the crank, bolstering a top speed of 187 mph (~300 km/h).
—New Atlas, 8 May 2026
Her octopus was named Marcellus McSquiddles, an aging crank who notes his days of captivity in a Puget Sound aquarium as if on death row, but also recognizes the night janitor, Tova, is lonely and grieving.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Verb
But the weather turned colder last week, allowing the students, most of whom are preparing for jobs in the ski industry, to crank up the snowmaking guns last weekend.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
April is typically Florida’s driest month, and as temperatures increase, rainfall lags behind plants’ water needs so people tend to crank up their irrigation.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank
Noun
-
Marinated tofu pockets are stuffed with rich crab meat and fried twice to achieve a thin and crispy shell that perfectly complements the crab meat inside.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
The small crabs and shrimp in the sargassum, which attract sea turtles and mahi mahi offshore, also can attract stingrays inshore.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Dippold has populated the show with lovable eccentrics played by great character actors—Dale Dickey, Jeff Hiller, Tim Baltz.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
-
Inbred eccentrics and bumbling detectives have populated the seaside villages of Bruno Dumont’s absurdist comedies.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The menu rotates based on the event's theme, or Graci's whims, but never fails to excite, with past flavors including Jalapeño Popper, Spinach & Artichoke, Chicago Beef and more.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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Still, hopefully a string of successes can convince companies and investors that the whims of the president alone cannot tamp down on an entire burgeoning industry, an embarrassing thing to have to convince people of in the United States.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
In an instant – or rather, through a grueling, ugly, then gritty, then triumphant Game 5 – that temporal distance is temporarily undone.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Thomas Little’s life story was once one of triumphant persistence only to be replaced by the too-common tale of a spiral into imprisonment and deadly gun violence.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Sweet orange and tangerine in particular are showing up as accessible, joyful entry points for anyone who wants a scent that does a little extra work.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
As my character waited, the mood was joyful.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The boat ramp sits near a parking lot at the outer edge of a large peninsula, accessible by Joe Bald Road, which winds through several hundred acres of thick trees.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
Follow the winding boardwalk down the bluff to discover what might be one of the Florida panhandle's quietest little beaches.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The parasite has the cattle and dairy industry on edge, but in Mexico, screwworm has also been found in bears, pigs, goats, and even dogs and cats.—
John Lauritsen,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Keep dogs leashed in bear country, and maintain control of them at all times.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The soaking process makes the nuts easier to blend, creating a smooth and creamy nut butter.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
18 June 2026
-
Beans, whole grains, seeds and nuts may carry compounds that quietly support the gut barrier rather than work against it.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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