1
as in eccentrics
a person of odd or whimsical habits
she's a bit of a crank, but still a good-hearted person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crabs
an irritable and complaining person
he's always a crank until he has his morning coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whims
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
his endless and unpredictable cranks made spending time with him exhausting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cranks
New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2025
For Southern rock, the Allman Brothers Band’s Live at Fillmore East or Lynyrd Skynyrd’s One More from the Road were must-cranks.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
In what was once the typesetting room of the Miami Daily News, later called the Miami News, large scrolls of clippings can be viewed by visitors using hand cranks that mimic a newspaper rolling off the press.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Framed as cranks more than reasonable critics, the #FSGOut contingent have penetrated rather than defined the conversation around Liverpool since FSG took control in late 2010.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Plus, the human longevity field is notorious for cranks, unproven supplements and fly-by-night clinics.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Then there's the Trickstuff Maxima four-piston front and rear brakes, I9 Hydra 2 hubs and Cane Creek printed titanium cranks.
—New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2025
For Southern rock, the Allman Brothers Band’s Live at Fillmore East or Lynyrd Skynyrd’s One More from the Road were must-cranks.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
In what was once the typesetting room of the Miami Daily News, later called the Miami News, large scrolls of clippings can be viewed by visitors using hand cranks that mimic a newspaper rolling off the press.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Framed as cranks more than reasonable critics, the #FSGOut contingent have penetrated rather than defined the conversation around Liverpool since FSG took control in late 2010.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Plus, the human longevity field is notorious for cranks, unproven supplements and fly-by-night clinics.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranks
Noun
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For Mimi Pond, the desire to do a book about the Mitford sisters – six larger-than-life British eccentrics (and one brother) who created a stir in both British and American culture – was obvious.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For decades, sovereign citizens largely flew under the radar in Australia as relatively harmless eccentrics with a special interest in conspiracy theories.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
It's also believed that crabs of this species survived after a meteorite struck Earth around 66 million years ago, the infamous event that led to the extinction of dinosaurs.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
An undersea submersible has revealed crabs, worms, and fish living on World War II explosives in the Baltic Sea.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than spending millions in a relentless quest to solve the problems wrought by Coors Field, the Rockies appear to have capitulated to its whims.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
One Battle also exemplifies where Hall’s career has taken her, which is to say across genres, moods, and Hollywood whims.—
Matthew Jacobs,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Just one or two nuts can cover your daily needs.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Spoon any topping and nuts in pan onto loaf.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The faculty experience has been that administrations often side with the complainers.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Recognize Quieter Customers Celebrate the non-complainers.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In addition, data showed those who switched to self-employment had previously earned more than peers who were paid employees, contrasting with notions that they were pushed into starting their own business.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Where other projects have found success discussing the same notions bleakly, Etzler trusts his sardonic approach will tempt audiences to let their guards down and allow the subject matter to resonate, perhaps looking inward at their own complicity in the process.—
Holly Jones,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
From here, enjoy a leisurely drive along iconic Skyline Drive, which winds 101 miles along the park’s ridgeline.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The brush automatically winds your hair around it to boost the volume.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In summer, the bears glow against a palette of blues and greens with daytime temperatures swinging from T-shirt to fleece-level.—
Susan Portnoy,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
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In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cranks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranks. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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