adjective Uncommon

cranky

KRANG-kee

Cranky (adjective) means Easily irritated; grumpy and bad-tempered. Example: “The toddler gets cranky when she misses her nap.”

adjective

Easily irritated; grumpy and bad-tempered.

"The toddler gets cranky when she misses her nap."

"He was cranky after the long, delayed flight."

Not working properly; faulty or unreliable.

"The old printer is cranky and jams constantly."

How to use cranky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGrumpy and easily irritated, or (of a machine) unreliable and prone to malfunctioning.

Common pairings

cranky toddler cranky old machine get cranky

Word forms

crankier comparative, crankiest superlative

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The toddler gets _____ when she misses her nap.

Etymology

From crank plus the adjective ending -y, related to a Low German word for "sickly" or "unwell".

Origin: German

Rhymes for cranky

lanky swanky skanky spanky Franky

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Frequently asked questions

What does “cranky” mean?

The word “cranky” means easily irritated; grumpy and bad-tempered. In plain terms, grumpy and easily irritated, or (of a machine) unreliable and prone to malfunctioning.

How do you pronounce “cranky”?

“Cranky” is pronounced KRANG-kee (/ˈkɹæŋki/ in IPA).

How do you use “cranky” in a sentence?

Here is “cranky” used in a sentence: “The toddler gets cranky when she misses her nap.”

What part of speech is “cranky”?

“Cranky” is an adjective.

Where does the word “cranky” come from?

The word “cranky” comes from German. From crank plus the adjective ending -y, related to a Low German word for "sickly" or "unwell".

Is “cranky” a common word?

“Cranky” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cranky” have?

“Cranky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: easily irritated; grumpy and bad-tempered.

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Vocabulary lists that include cranky:

Words with German origins