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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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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cranky
Poor sleep leads to more than just crankiness A cranky kid after a bad night’s sleep is bad enough.
—
Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Parents who live in several specific parts of the country do not have to spend two weeks a year dealing with extra-cranky kids.
—Rosie Colosi, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
If Elvis was ever cranky, that’s been stripped out.
—Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2026
And what of Morrison’s famously cranky reputation?
—Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Parents who live in several specific parts of the country do not have to spend two weeks a year dealing with extra-cranky kids.
—Rosie Colosi, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
If Elvis was ever cranky, that’s been stripped out.
—Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2026
And what of Morrison’s famously cranky reputation?
—Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cranky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cranky
Adjective
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But it’s played sincerely, so the visual contrast just makes the connection feel clumsy, if not outright absurd.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
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McGee meets one of a clumsy TURF intern Pete, who is revealed to be Olivia's 18-year-old son, Matteo (Patrick Keleher) under interrogation.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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From the dramatic adolescent to the unpredictable PMS-ing woman to the irritable menopausal crone, unattractive stereotypes of women ruled by their hormones abound.—
Patricia Bencivenga,
STAT,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Caroly is immediately affected, glued to the TV; John, suddenly irritable, retreats.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Leo moon sparks your restless desires for fun and adventure.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Deep inside every atom lies a restless world of quarks and gluons—the tiny building blocks that hold everything together, from rocks to stars.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Why the Vaping Squirrels Trend Is Dangerous The viral clips might look funny, but the reality is far less cute.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
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The explanation is kind of funny, but also very much a seasonal sign of renewal on the barrier islands.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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So Pakistan is already in an awkward position because the Saudis are being attacked.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Lock down the logistics first The fastest way to kill trip momentum is skipping the awkward conversations.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Is Cronin a mad genius, or just a grumpy, old man coaching basketball?—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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If your child acts grumpy and tired after school, wait to ask them how their day was.—
Margery D. Rosen,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The goggles, the GPS address and the laptop — all of it was strong evidence supporting the bizarre story Denise and Aaron had been telling all along.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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His YouTube page, once an online venue for his songs, was more recently dedicated to paranoid rants about his family members, some centering on his relationship with his grandfather, and others where Valdez displayed bizarre behavior like imitating Nazi soldiers.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But Thune has been slow to embrace the process, in part because it is viewed as so cumbersome.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
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Certain menu items, though, feel like fan favorites made to wear cumbersome disguises, while entrees outside of the burger don’t always feel as essential as the smaller plates.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cranky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cranky. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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