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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2
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
the baby was cranky after not being fed for hours
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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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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cranky
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 cranky
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 cranky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranky
Adjective
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At times, Alcaraz was almost as clumsy as Federer in his last hurrah here against Hubert Hurkacz in 2021.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
But things get weighed down by a clumsy body-swapping plot and a pairing between Joe and 22 that never fully pays off.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 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
-
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
-
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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There’s definitely something funny going on with the Universe.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 June 2025
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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
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
-
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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All the usual fun Indy stuff is here – Nazis, treasured artifacts – though the bantering chemistry between Ford's hard-luck hero and Sean Connery as his grumpy dad is off-the-hook spectacular.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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This bizarre tale about being picked up by bounty hunters, taken to an unmarked warehouse without access to food, water or an attorney were clearly fabricated.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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Alicia Hannah-Kim is breaking her silence after a bizarre incident with Cobra Kai costar Martin Kove earlier this month resulted in him being removed from a fan event for biting her.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
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The actions come as deepfakes have become increasingly common, affecting celebrities such as pop star Taylor Swift and even Pope Francis as well as many less famous people, and also grown more cumbersome to identify as AI-generated.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranky. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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