# cranky

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈkɹæŋki/ · frequency rank #23,793

## Definitions
1. Not in good working condition; defective, faulty.
2. Grouchy, grumpy, irritable; easily upset.
3. Not in perfect mental working order; eccentric, peculiar.
4. Synonym of crank (“of a ship: liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast”).
5. Full of spirit; spirited.
6. Weak, unwell.

## Etymology
From crank + -y. Compare Middle Low German krankich (“sickly, unwell”).

## Easily confused with
- **cray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cranky-vs-cray)
- **crazy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cranky-vs-crazy)
- **crony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cranky-vs-crony)
- **crappy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cranky-vs-crappy)
- **crack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crack-vs-cranky)
- **candy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candy-vs-cranky)
- **crane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crane-vs-cranky)
- **crank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crank-vs-cranky)
- **canny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cranky)
- **clank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clank-vs-cranky)
- **cracks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cracks-vs-cranky)
- **cranes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cranes-vs-cranky)
- **chunky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chunky-vs-cranky)
- **crafty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crafty-vs-cranky)
- **clancy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clancy-vs-cranky)
- **Chaney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaney-vs-cranky)
- **clunky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clunky-vs-cranky)
- **chalky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chalky-vs-cranky)
- **cranked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cranked-vs-cranky)

## Common misspellings (10)
`carnky`, `ccranky`, `crakny`, `crankky`, `crankyy`, `crannky`, `cranyk`, `crnaky`, `crranky`, `rcanky`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cranky