crank 1 of 3

noun

ˈkraŋk How to pronounce crank (audio)
Definition of cranknext
1
as in crab
an irritable and complaining person he's always a crank until he has his morning coffee

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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

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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

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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

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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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crank

3 of 3

verb

as in to wind

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of crank
Noun
In the ever more precarious world of academia, the neck of the principled luddite crank might be particularly attractive when institutions swing the axe in the next round of layoffs. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026 In 2022, a group calling itself the America First SOS Coalition endorsed a slate of cranks and quacks who ran for secretary of state in 14 states, including the presidential battlegrounds of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 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 See All Example Sentences for crank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank
  1. crab
  2. eccentric
  3. whim
  4. triumphant
  5. joyful
  6. wind
  7. bear
  8. nut
Noun
  • Police also investigated a string of similar cargo thefts in 2024 involving beef, pork, salmon, cod and crab.
    — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The rooftop bar looks over Hyde Park, lending a welcome (and rather rare) sense of openness in central London, while ABC Kitchen—the London outpost of the New York restaurant famed for its crab toast—brings in a high-flying food crowd.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of crab
Noun
  • The public reckonings with these figures’ legacies—the troubled former child star gone too soon, the beloved icon, the cult favorite, the complicated eccentric—have come in a cascade.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Make sure to practice a full range of motion with these and emphasize the eccentric (the way down) part of the movement for maximal time under tension and muscle-building stimulus.
    — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • But elevating the whims of progressive activists and government bureaucrats above the wisdom of the marketplace has proven a costly mistake and undermined consumer choice.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • All of this makes the recent terminations tricky for OpenAI and shows that safety disclosures are still very much at the whims of the labs.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of whim
Adjective
  • The Oscars love sprawling biopics, underdogs and triumphant stories in which seemingly insurmountable obstacles are eventually overcome.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • After the Sacramento Kings were caught for a shot-clock violation on the first possession of Monday’s preseason game, Luka Doncic raised his fists toward the Lakers bench with a triumphant grin to symbolize the successful start.
    — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of triumphant
Adjective
  • Surrounded by pure and joyful chaos, Stein slowly walked onto the turf with his arms in the air in awe of the scene unfolding in front of him.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Here, everything feels so exciting, light, and joyful that guests secretly hope this night—like a good novel—will never end.
    — Leonie Rolinck, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of joyful
Verb
  • Produced by Awesomeness Films, the movie then embarked on a winding journey to release after Viacom bought Awesomeness and eventually merged with CBS.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The estate’s outdoor spaces are equally inviting, with covered walkways winding through the picturesque grounds and connecting a deep oval swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, and a bocce court.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of wind
Noun
  • The volunteers set a humane trap to lure Luna in using the scent of her family, since using food could attract other wildlife like bears.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Most bears are out there catching salmon, digging through dumpsters and scavenging for berries.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bear
Noun
  • Primaries Kenny and Christina have long wanted to come to Thailand, but have been held back by Christina’s lethal nut allergy.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Top with reserved hazelnuts and press in gently to adhere (surface will be smothered with nuts).
    — Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of nut

Phrases Containing crank

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craniums
crank
cranked
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Cite this Entry

“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crank

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