1
as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
that old typewriter is handy sometimes, but rather cranky these days
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
the baby was cranky after not being fed for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in restless
given to complaining a lot
if cranky children don't appreciate what they already have, then they shouldn't get a thing more
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4
as in funny
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
that's just another of his cranky theories about the CIA
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in psychotic
dialect
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind
the man would inflict on innocent bystanders his cranky ruminations on world events
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cranky
Blowouts, the baby being cranky, an ear infection, all these things happen so often.
—
Kiara Byrd, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Both are highly cushioned, so your feet won’t feel cranky or fatigued by the end of the day.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 16 Apr. 2025
Fifteen years after her husband’s drowning in the nearby bay, Tressilian’s days are spent in a cranky routine: grumbling over the obscene resort stationed on the opposite bluff, reading London’s gossip columns, and summoning the household help with the insistent ringing of a bedroom call bell.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
The right-hander, who battled a cranky back and shoulder fatigue in spring training, is expected to slot into the Yankees’ rotation on April 15 or 16 against the Royals.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Kiara Byrd, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Both are highly cushioned, so your feet won’t feel cranky or fatigued by the end of the day.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 16 Apr. 2025
Fifteen years after her husband’s drowning in the nearby bay, Tressilian’s days are spent in a cranky routine: grumbling over the obscene resort stationed on the opposite bluff, reading London’s gossip columns, and summoning the household help with the insistent ringing of a bedroom call bell.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025
The right-hander, who battled a cranky back and shoulder fatigue in spring training, is expected to slot into the Yankees’ rotation on April 15 or 16 against the Royals.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranky
Adjective
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These transitions, between past and present, are sometimes clumsy but sometimes genuinely sweet, as with an old letter that near-simultaneously is dictated and written, received and read, and finally rediscovered (and only partially understood) in the 21st century.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
27 May 2025
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Wildlife officials helped remove a black bear found hanging out in the kitchen of a Kentucky home after an impressive, yet clumsy break-in, photos show.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The crew is under the supervision of the capable Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) who is prone to panic attacks as the group visits an irritable planet at the behest of The Corporation — a powerful business conglomerate where profit is indeed king.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
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It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
There is a kind of sadness that comes from living in a restless state of FOMO — or fear of missing out, as the acronym goes.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2025
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As congressional Democrats have struggled to combat Trump this year, attorneys general have represented a tangible — and effective — counter to the president for restless Democratic voters.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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There are enough quotable lines of dialogue in the movie’s first half to remind you why Succession was, pound for pound, one of the most profanely funny shows on TV during its run.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
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Because to us, the most funny things are right next to the most tragic things.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
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Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Eddie's real parentage is revealed, Maeve is outed, Kevin catches up with Rusby, Bella brokers her deal, and Alice attends an awkward Harrigan dinner.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
26 May 2025
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There is also an awkward disconnect: Gmail’s recent encryption upgrade clashes with its AI upgrades.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Even as grumpy old men, each still very much has his soapbox.—
Peter Suciu,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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That changed in 1998, though, with the success of Becker (1998–2004), a CBS sitcom about a grumpy doctor that Danson starred on for six seasons.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Joining me is my Staten Island brother, Pete Davidson, who unveils a darker, dramatic side as his character navigates a bizarre group of residents in an old age home.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
29 May 2025
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But inexplicably, Villa contrived to lose the game, thanks in no small part to goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s sending off in the first half for a bizarre body-check on Rasmus Hojlund.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranky. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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