Definitions

cranky

[krang-kee] / ˈkræŋ ki /

ADJECTIVE

in bad mood

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cantankerous grouchy grumpy irascible irritable ornery ugly

WEAK

bad-humored bearish choleric crabby cross crotchety cussed disagreeable got up on wrong side of bed hot-tempered ill-humored like a bear mean out of sorts perverse quick-tempered ratty snappish tetchy vinegary

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful happy nice pleasant

WEAK

amiable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We may have been cranky, but we were also decent people .

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

“You can certainly see the market get cranky about that.”

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

"If you get cranky with family, just know it's because you're tired," she told them at one point.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

If Elvis was ever cranky, that’s been stripped out.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

But then Andries Bonger walks in, and he's cranky.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Vocabulary lists containing cranky

Rules

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The Lemonade War

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Negative Words to Describe People

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