What does cranky mean?
Cranky means (of a machine, etc.) Not in good working condition; defective, faulty..
Cranky
/ˈkɹæŋki/ · adjective
Meaning
(of a machine, etc.) Not in good working condition; defective, faulty..
Definitions by Sense
- (of a machine, etc.) Not in good working condition; defective, faulty.
- Grouchy, grumpy, irritable; easily upset.
- Not in perfect mental working order; eccentric, peculiar.
- Synonym of crank (“of a ship: liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast”).
- (archaic) Full of spirit; spirited.
- (obsolete) Weak, unwell.
Example Sentences
We had seven canoes, all of them dugouts. One was small, one was cranky, and two were old, waterlogged, and leaky. The other three were good.
Margaret Cerullo gave a rousing speech, despite the pesky interruptions of a cranky sound system.
He got home from a long day at work tired and cranky.
Uncle Esau is as cranky as hell, and a peculiar old duck, but I think he'll like a fine upstanding young man as big as you be.
a cranky vessel
Synonyms for cranky
Antonyms for cranky
Related Words
Word Forms
- crankier
- crankiest
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for cranky?
Common synonyms include shaky, crank, tender, fractious.
What is the opposite of cranky?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use cranky in a sentence?
We had seven canoes, all of them dugouts. One was small, one was cranky, and two were old, waterlogged, and leaky. The other three were good.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.