as in irritability
readiness to show annoyance or impatience
overtired children are often prone to crankiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
the baby was cranky after not being fed for hours
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crankiness
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 May 2025
His schedule was previously delayed by a cranky back.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Thomas had a long and prolific career, right up to his final years, despite his health woes and a famously cranky personality that could curdle soup across the room.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Blowouts, the baby being cranky, an ear infection, all these things happen so often.
—Kiara Byrd, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crankiness
Adjective
Weird, but not nearly as weird as sidekick comedian Richard King pretending to be cranky KISS bassist Gene Simmons for a whole episode a few weeks ago.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 May 2025
His schedule was previously delayed by a cranky back.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Thomas had a long and prolific career, right up to his final years, despite his health woes and a famously cranky personality that could curdle soup across the room.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Blowouts, the baby being cranky, an ear infection, all these things happen so often.
—Kiara Byrd, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crankiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crankiness
Noun
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Dehydration can worsen feelings of anxiety and irritability.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
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Common issues include sleep problems, appetite loss, irritability, and mood swings.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Herbert includes a range of moments, from earnest attempts to talk about the enslaved people that maintained all these palatial homes to clumsier ones in which they are referred to as workers, insinuating that their labor was paid for instead of forced.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
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The aftermath of Virginia’s clumsy tumble into a rose bed where her exposed cleavage is profusely pricked by thorns lasts for all of one scene.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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But a new wrench is thrown into the works in the form of an irritable downstairs neighbor.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
27 June 2025
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And getting swept at home by a losing club, the Miami Marlins, would make anyone a tad irritable and hypersensitive.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Joya was restless, not just her eyes but all of her.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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But there’s also a fine line between being restless and being reckless, especially as their own record and the ups and downs of others clarify the landscape.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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The Target jokes stopped being funny when, in 2023, right-wing social-media attacks on its Pride collection got so bad that the company pulled some of the items from its stores, citing threats to employees.—
Emma Sarappo,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
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Much like his character, Boyce is mild-mannered, kind and effortlessly funny.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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The next mayor, like so many of his predecessors, will have to engage in awkward negotiations with politicians in Albany.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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Barely a week goes by without some fresh young talent arriving in West London to pose for the media with a Blue jersey and an awkward grin.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Irene’s fiercely protective husband, Hank (Geoffrey Wade), an arch religious conservative, is too grumpy.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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That grumpy team member might be dealing with a flooded basement or a teenager who just got their driver’s license (arguably worse than the flood).—
ByJulie Kantor,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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While most players at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship are battling the Texas heat, slow play, and a demanding Fields Ranch East layout, Leona Maguire is dealing with something far more bizarre—tick bites!—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
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The Myth Of More A Boston University professor turned the business world on its head back in 2015 by exposing a bizarre truth about productivity in the workplace.—
Drew Gerber,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crankiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crankiness. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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