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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cranky
There's no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than watching everyone's favorite cranky character descend upon Whoville.
—
Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2025
The new musical comedy show will star a frazzled leader, ambitious lieutenant, playful maverick, cranky grouch and quirky problem solver, according to the Disney Auditions website.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025
Despite ignoring his initial greeting and relying on her cranky anti-neighborly attitude to dissuade further outreach, Nile won’t relent.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025
When talking about his cake, Noel asks Aaron what the hero flavor will be because Paul gets cranky when there isn’t one.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2025
The new musical comedy show will star a frazzled leader, ambitious lieutenant, playful maverick, cranky grouch and quirky problem solver, according to the Disney Auditions website.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025
Despite ignoring his initial greeting and relying on her cranky anti-neighborly attitude to dissuade further outreach, Nile won’t relent.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025
When talking about his cake, Noel asks Aaron what the hero flavor will be because Paul gets cranky when there isn’t one.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranky
Adjective
-
Isabel, sitting in a driving-range stall, is nearly hit with a ball when a clumsy golfer clangs it off a metal railing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The results are often enervating though sometimes clumsy.—
Eli Enis,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
-
On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets, the people of Israel grew restless and decided to melt down their jewelry and create a golden calf.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Benefits of Separate Sleep Spaces Experiencing restless sleep—or worse, not getting enough sleep—because one partner snores or has different sleep patterns can result in chronic sleep loss for the other partner and relationship tension for both.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
From the other side of the window the guard is giving me funny kine looks.—
Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But history, which has a funny way of repeating itself, suggests otherwise.—
Stephen Mihm,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The image became a meme, repeatedly used to portray Miliband as awkward.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The communication was straightforward and a bit awkward, sadly missing the mentions of Nancy Guthrie’s humanity that had peppered the family’s first video.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And who doesn’t relish the gothic details of an ancient manor and grumpy yet uniquely attractive duke that owns it?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Then there was the grumpy forty-something.—
John Winsor,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Having stabilized his ship in orbit around the black hole, Dr Hans Reinhardt (a bizarre, OTT performance from Maximilian Schell) now plans to fly into it, assisted by an unquestioning crew of automatons with a very dark origin story.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
That's bizarre to me, especially those two.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One approach is to reform outdated and cumbersome permitting processes so clean energy projects, such as for solar and wind power — along with more transmission lines — can be added to our grid more quickly.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The legislative process is cumbersome and messy, but ultimately it is shaped by 535 lawmakers’ opinions from districts and states across the nation.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranky. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
