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
Ian Stokes, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s a cast of wanderers, visionaries, and itinerants, the self-educated and self-published, a long lineage of cranks and outcasts, mostly penurious, always opinionated, stretching away into the mists of pseudohistory.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
For now, the brewery doesn't have to crank up production to fulfill export demands.
—Betsy Joles, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Noun
Turning the crank handle on the right-hand side of the set launches the rocket upwards, with the booster rockets splitting off not long after take-off.
—Ian Stokes, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s a cast of wanderers, visionaries, and itinerants, the self-educated and self-published, a long lineage of cranks and outcasts, mostly penurious, always opinionated, stretching away into the mists of pseudohistory.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Freezing temperatures have overtaken many parts of the country this winter, prompting people to crank up the heat in their homes.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
For now, the brewery doesn't have to crank up production to fulfill export demands.
—Betsy Joles, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank
Noun
-
Unlike most crab cakes, which use bread to bind and extend the crab meat, Barnum-Dann’s are tiny pucks of 100 percent crab meat in a Meyer lemon aioli, lightly breaded on the outside and fried until golden.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The menu features warm, hearty favorites like buttermilk sea salt biscuits, crab mozzarella sticks, and rotisserie piri piri chicken.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On her trail are a Báthory relative who is vegetarian (Thomas Schubert), his psychotherapist (Lars Eidinger), two vampirologists, a police inspector and a gallery of eccentrics.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Catherine O’Hara portrayed ridiculous eccentrics with equal parts hilarity and humanity.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Living in the White House is usually made easy by all of the staff who work to deliver on any presidential whim—maybe a little mayhem is good for the people in power.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
-
These guardrails exist to ensure trade policy is grounded in evidence and congressional intent rather than presidential whim.—
Mohammad N. Elahee,
Hartford Courant,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a crazy, almost anarchic narrative logic that keeps it zigging and zagging unpredictably from the high-speed chase around precarious mountain roads to the suspenseful near disaster of the climax, in which nature gets angry, and the triumphant eco solution that saves the day.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The townspeople perform a celebratory dance with the tailors, and the ballet ends with the boy jumping onto their shoulders in a triumphant pose.—
Jennifer Homans,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Focus on learning things that excite you to keep the process joyful.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
While the figure skater has become known for her carefree and joyful persona, she has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight, which has brought some unwelcome attention.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nearby, Hollywood Bus Tours winds through Los Angeles’ famous movie lots and upscale neighborhoods, a must-do for many visitors.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Other details on the interiors are scarce (for now), but Lazzara says the focus onboard is not about extravagance, but design continuity throughout each and every space on the new vessel—and having enough space to truly wind, too.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With climactic changes abreast and habitat loss due to human encroachment, there are few places left in North America where a bear will live out its life and never encounter a human.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
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Like many American companies, Learning Resources relies on Chinese factories and workers to make its products, of which perhaps the most widely recognizable are plastic bears used for counting practice that are staples of many preschool classrooms.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fiber-rich whole grains, nuts, and lean proteins can help maintain a healthy body weight, which may ease pressure on the airway during sleep, and reduce sleep apnea episodes.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Other sources of fat include oil, nuts, and seeds.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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