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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crank
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Both come with all-wheel drive and panoramic moonroofs as standard, and the GLS even gets the option of a flat-crank V8, as our friends at Car & Driver pointed out.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
By 1996, every band with a guitar felt the pressure to crank its amps as loud as possible, and even indie pop fans heard the clean jangle of prior years give way to the distorted crunch and Psychocandy worship of bands like Black Tambourine and Henry’s Dress.
—David Glickman, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Noun
The Republican Party embraced neoconservatism; Buchanan and his cohort were the stewards of an ideology for cranks.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Both come with all-wheel drive and panoramic moonroofs as standard, and the GLS even gets the option of a flat-crank V8, as our friends at Car & Driver pointed out.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
That’s largely because of how high Jaquez was able to crank up the heat from the jump Sunday.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
By 1996, every band with a guitar felt the pressure to crank its amps as loud as possible, and even indie pop fans heard the clean jangle of prior years give way to the distorted crunch and Psychocandy worship of bands like Black Tambourine and Henry’s Dress.
—David Glickman, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank
Noun
-
The plant provides habitat for fish, crabs and plankton, feeds migratory birds and locks away carbon and methane — both heat-trapping greenhouse gases — in coastal sediments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Their diet includes fish, squid, crabs, krill and other sea life.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Now is the time for Colorado leaders to push back on this bad decision and fight for a future where disaster declarations are considered on their merits and qualifications, not on the angry whims of one man.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Butlers are on call (and WhatsApp) for your every whim and can arrange tennis lessons, boat excursions, and horseback riding.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bill Oakley, group show director for both the expo and the industry magazine Pizza Today, said having a triumphant triumvirate from the same region is rare.—
Rod Stafford Hagwood,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Ten years later, with an outpouring of fan requests and a wave of sweet nostalgia that couldn't be stopped, the soft-and-chewy cakes made their triumphant return to store shelves in early 2022.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s so much skill there, and so much joyful effervescence.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
-
With an emotional reaction that was joyful, not hopeless.—
Peter Larsen,
Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Other trails stretch beyond the giant trees, winding into river canyons and through dense forest.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The winding memorial will stretch from the Mall to Birdcage Walk, featuring several tributes to Queen Elizabeth along the way.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rangers responded to three incidents involving bears along Ramsey Cascades Trail, a popular hike to a waterfall, and three more on Abrams Falls Trail, which is another waterfall hike, according to the park service.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Two popular trails have been closed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to aggressive bears, including one who chased after hikers, according to the National Park Service.—
Mark Price
April 21,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Everything is coated in a garlic butter salt that masks the mediocrity of the nuts.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Foods Containing Phytic Acid Phytic acid is a natural substance found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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