CRANK (UP) Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

crank (up)

verb

Definition of crank (up)

as in to trigger

to cause to function crank up the CD player so we can dance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank (up)

Verb

The executions, announced Sunday, triggered condemnations by rights groups in the North African country that is divided between rival administrations, each backed by a set of militias and foreign governments.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
The article suggests a one-time California levy is unlikely to trigger a billionaire stampede.

— Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of trigger

Verb

Several other brands have activated during high-stakes competitions and inked their own collaborations that tap into the convergence of beauty and sports this year.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
Ars Video When activated, Motion Assist adds small dots around the edges of your phone screen over top of the content.

— Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of activate

Verb

The Lincoln has been at sea for an extended deployment during the Iran war, which sparked concerns among lawmakers and military families after reports of the crew’s worsening mental health and conditions aboard.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
While ChatGPT’s release in late 2022, helped spark a flurry of competition and advances for large language models, the same idea isn’t easily applied to robots because of their complexity.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of spark

Verb

Amazon will directly fund total costs to power its data centers and will bring 2,600 megawatts of new generation and 400 megawatts of battery storage to the grid.

— Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Built to power the generative artificial intelligence boom and cryptocurrency frenzy, these industrial developments can use as much energy as some cities and consume millions of gallons of fresh water daily.

— Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of power

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.

Browse Nearby Words

cranks (up)

crank (up)

cranky

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Crank (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank%20%28up%29. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of crank (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

devolve

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes