1
as in triumphant
having or expressing feelings of joy or triumph
you shouldn't feel so crank, considering that you beat the worst softball team in the league
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in joyful
joyously unrestrained
folks around here are downright crank that a local boy won a gold medal in the Olympics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
she's a bit of a crank, but still a good-hearted person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crab
an irritable and complaining person
he's always a crank until he has his morning coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
his endless and unpredictable cranks made spending time with him exhausting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crank
James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2025
With Estrada as the tying run on base, center fielder Brenton Doyle cranked a two-run home run to make it 17-16 and walk the Pirates off.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023
Model numbers can be found on the inside of the crank arm near the backside of the arm where the pedals are attached.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2023
Paris Goodman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 July 2025
The chaotic third act cranks up the tension and violence, building to a gnarly climax that's equal parts disturbing, hilarious, and curious.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for crank
Adjective
The 28-year-old cranked his 19th homer of the season as his career-best year continues to roll on.
—James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2025
With Estrada as the tying run on base, center fielder Brenton Doyle cranked a two-run home run to make it 17-16 and walk the Pirates off.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
This means the percentage of energy transferred from your legs during each pedal stroke to your crank arm.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023
Model numbers can be found on the inside of the crank arm near the backside of the arm where the pedals are attached.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2023
Verb
Just remember to keep some batteries handy, because this one doesn’t have solar power or a hand crank for when the power goes out.
—Paris Goodman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 July 2025
The chaotic third act cranks up the tension and violence, building to a gnarly climax that's equal parts disturbing, hilarious, and curious.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for crank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crank
Adjective
-
Yorgos Lanthimos is making a triumphant return to the Venice Film Festival this year with Bugonia, his first appearance since picking up a Golden Lion two years ago for his film, Poor Things, which went on to win four Academy Awards.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Brentford 1-2 Aston Villa Arsenal vs Leeds Oli says: After a triumphant return to the top flight against Everton, this feels like a game that will see Leeds brought down to earth with a bump and a stark illustration of the set-up in quality.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The energy was high and joyful, and people were genuinely having fun.—
Meredith Nierman,
NPR,
19 Aug. 2025
-
And he was released to his joyful family – and to find his girlfriend alive and waiting for him.—
Clarissa Ward,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These people’s histories range from the eccentric to the inspiring and are often stranger than fiction, memorable as well as consequential.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
-
Ra’s decades-long adherence to this personal mythology, along with his air of serene bemusement and his extravagant robes and headdresses, led to his popular image as a colorful eccentric.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
But as enthusiastic a draw as the Gilroy garlic fries, crab sandwiches, and Ghirardelli hot fudge sundaes were, no lines were longer than those for merchandise.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Extending beyond the lobster roll (which costs $30 for a quarter pound roll and $41 for a six-ounce roll), guests can opt for shrimp rolls ($17 and $22) and crab rolls ($22 and $30).—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This should be five-alarm fire for Wall Street, an institution that owes much of its success to the existence of a US monetary policy nerve center that is, by law and by tradition, insulated from the whims of any one party or politician.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
27 Aug. 2025
-
In this still-early stage of the AI boom, Silicon Valley, for all its impunity, has chosen not to voice robust ideas about democracy that differ substantively from the whims of a mercurial White House.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The rain had been falling for hours, blurring the lines of the winding road ahead.—
Marvin Krislov,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Because different electronics parts are typically assembled in different countries, supply chains for popular products have suddenly become a winding path, with potential tariff obstacles cropping up at any turn.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Sears had a proud narrative, but Amazon had a compounding moat.—
Michael Cannivet,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
As a proud and perpetually hungry University of Alabama alum, my thoughts turn first to food, and one specific game-day treat in particular: the stadium dog.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
From intimate evenings at home to lively dinner parties, Wine Chips make every sip more memorable.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Over time these steps reshape the workplace into something livelier and more collaborative.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crank. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share