cranking

verb

present participle of crank
as in winding

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranking
  1. winding
  2. reeling
  3. coiling
Verb
  • The story of McCarthy’s life was written on this winding street that snakes through a small, working-class corner of Pittsburgh where the Monongahela River bends.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • These fuchsia French tips are wrapped in winding stems, with floral accent nails sprinkled throughout.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 27 July 2026
Definition of winding
Verb
  • In fact, legendary bass angler Rick Clunn won a lot of money in the early 80s reeling a Rebel Pop-R across the surface at warp speed.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 23 July 2026
  • Tatsuya Imai allowed one run over six innings, Isaac Paredes clubbed a three-run homer as the Houston Astros sent the reeling Miami Marlins to their eighth straight loss with a 5-3 victory on Tuesday.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of reeling
Verb
  • Joe Kramm | Courtesy of Francis Interiors The gold background is a spread of bold graphic lines, undulating shapes and coiling circular motifs, referencing the work of French artist, sculptor and designer Jean Dunand (1877–1942).
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Receiving a ball punched out of Tunisia’s area, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder took one touch to knock it into space, before coiling his diminutive frame behind a fierce shot that fizzed and curled into the net.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 15 June 2026
Definition of coiling
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

crankiness
cranking
cranking out
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Cite this Entry

“Cranking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranking. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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