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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crank

3 of 3

verb

as in to wind

Related Words

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
The firefighters ultimately used a hand crank to move the elevator, and Wallace told the outlet that the museum gave the everyone lifetime free passes in return. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 10 July 2026 The crank makes opening and closing easy, and the cloth is UV-resistant and waterproof. — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Verb
That prediction stems in part from his expectation that technology companies will crank up their prices as their products become more essential to companies like Allianz. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 July 2026 In Pittsburgh, where June and July can see maximum temperatures in the low to mid 90s, with averages in the 70s and 80s, temperatures are relatively normal for the end of June, with the heat expected to crank up ahead of Independence Day. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 25 June 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
  • Though many would associate the water sign with pearls—especially due to its crab mascot—Huang has a different recommendation for Cancers.
    — Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Try making a crab dip with low-fat Greek yogurt, low-fat cream cheese, and spinach.
    — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of crab
Noun
  • With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
  • The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • Google has therefore tied the ability to distribute Android apps to the whims of the US Treasury Department, which maintains and enforces economic sanctions.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
  • The difference between security agencies in democracies and secret-police forces is that the former have to obey laws and not just follow the whims of the head of state.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of whim
Adjective
  • In South Carolina’s 1876 gubernatorial race, the Democratic candidate, Confederate veteran Wade Hampton III, emerged triumphant and reinstated white supremacy as the fulcrum of state governance.
    — Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
  • My nephrologist appointment was supposed to be the triumphant lede - the moment a woman walked in prepared in a way the system never made possible before.
    — Amy Shoenthal, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of triumphant
Adjective
  • As in much of Europe, tourism is a sensitive subject, so knowing the unwritten rules (and even a bit of the local language, Euskera) will help avoid misunderstandings and unlock the city’s joyful, trademark love of the table.
    — Marti Buckley, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Homecoming’s joyful coming-of-age story jettisons some of the old clichés (no one needed to see Uncle Ben’s death again) while still maintaining the personal elements that make Spidey so moving.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of joyful
Verb
  • The faucet handles are crafted to represent the winding crown of a watch.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, which winds through 10 countries on its journey from Germany to the Black Sea, has fallen to record lows in Hungary.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of wind
Noun
  • Some objects bear inscriptions, others contain locks of hair.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Grizzly bears also top the list in Idaho, Montana and Washington, and bison pose the greatest danger in South Dakota and Wyoming.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of bear
Noun
  • Pistachios have more antioxidants than any other nut, and are also lower in calories.
    — Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In medium-small bowl, toss together chocolate, nuts, cinnamon, melted 2 tablespoons butter, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar.
    — Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of nut

Phrases Containing crank

Browse Nearby Words

craniums
crank
cranked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on crank

Nglish: Translation of crank for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crank

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All