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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
-
Sit inside or outside and enjoy delectable dishes, from Puerto Rican–style crab fritters to a swankier rendition of Mofongo.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 May 2026
-
Montages of Cardellini crouching and crab-walking in her turtle-like getup are a welcome reprieve from the show’s heavier material, though the performer is also able to connect them with the core story.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
But what the New Yorker writer left behind is some of the finest prose of the 20th century, focusing primarily on the eccentrics, scalawags, seamen, and other denizens of New York’s dank corners.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
2 May 2026
-
The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even in the best of times, cattle producers are also at nature's whim.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
29 May 2026
-
No matter how much someone disagrees with recent decisions by the high court, threatening to subordinate judicial independence to the whims of a political party befits a banana republic.—
Washington Post Editorial Board,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fans of the legendary designer and his whimsical, punk, off-kilter designs have been buzzing since the recent announcement that the Marc Jacobs Beauty brand would be making a triumphant return after a five-year hiatus.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
-
The story of Iran’s start-ups could have been a triumphant one for Iran’s private sector, and for a young generation seeking opportunity and connection with the outside world.—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The service The staff are gentle but also fun, witty and joyful, such as Rini, who can answer almost any question on Bawah; Nintya who handles landscaping and permaculture; and the waiter Julian, who likes to practice his English accent.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Pride Month is both a joyful celebration and a serious political reminder that LGBTQIA people are here and deserve the same rights as everyone else.—
Allison Hope,
Parents,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
With sodium-ion production managing the entry-level automotive sector, CATL is reallocating long-term engineering resources to address the physical bottlenecks of lithium-air technology, aiming at heavy-duty transport and the stabilization of solar and wind electrical grids.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
Narrow, winding streets and passageways lead up to the centuries-old Eglise Saint-Sauveur for sweeping views of the rugged valley.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Here, references to bears (in Bruin’s name, Colin’s fur suit, and Doane’s favorite hockey team), the talismanic power of household appliances, and the sunken earth keep recurring.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
-
Arriving guests can be greeted by elephants at reception, before taking in tigers, bears, leopards, and hundreds of bird species on game drives.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The crowd, feeling the need for an offensive punch, went nuts.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Specializing in creative lattes like brown suga baby (brown sugar, toffee nut, coconut, white chocolate, espresso, steamed milk) and lavender and chill (lavender, vanilla, espresso, steamed milk), Black Coffee opened in the Vivian apartment complex in 2024.—
Kate Williams,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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