as in irritability
readiness to show annoyance or impatience
overtired children are often prone to crankiness
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Recent Examples of crankiness
The most common symptoms of teething include drooling, putting fingers or fists in their mouth, swollen or puffy gums, difficulty sleeping, crankiness and fussiness, per the institution.
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Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
At one point, her crankiness about being underappreciated for her domestic efforts is blamed, without irony, on her period.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crankiness
irritability
Noun
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While largely benign, motion sickness can be highly unpleasant — often causing nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, as well as sweating, headache, and irritability in some cases.—
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Flu can impact children differently and present more general symptoms like irritability and general fussiness, or ear and stomach pain.—
Cite this Entry
“Crankiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crankiness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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