cranky

/ˈkræŋki/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkræŋki/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkraŋ-kē/ (ame, mw)

cranky — adjective

  • crankypositive
  • crankiercomparative
  • crankiestsuperlative

1. If someone is cranky, they get annoyed quickly and show it by sounding impatient

1.形容詞B2
釋義

If someone is cranky, they get annoyed quickly and show it by sounding impatient or hard to please, often because they are tired, hungry, or uncomfortable.

例句

Trang gets cranky when the bus is late and the coffee goes cold.

get + cranky when + situation

After the long flight, Christopher sounded cranky with everyone at dinner.

同義詞
  • grumpy

    very close in meaning, but often suggests a person's usual manner rather than a short mood

  • irritable

    more formal and often used in medical or psychological contexts

  • grouchy

    stronger and more openly complaining than 'cranky'

反義詞
  • cheerful

    showing a happy, bright mood instead of irritation

  • patient

    able to stay calm when things are slow or annoying

文法句型

feel cranky

get cranky when + clause

a cranky + noun

用法筆記

Often describes a short bad mood caused by hunger, tiredness, pain, or heat rather than a person's permanent character. It is also common for babies and animals that react badly to discomfort.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting was cranky after lunch.
✅Everyone at the meeting was cranky after lunch.
💡'cranky' describes people, animals, or their mood, not an event itself.

2. If a style, object, or piece of art is cranky, it looks oddly unusual in a playf

2.形容詞C1
釋義

If a style, object, or piece of art is cranky, it looks oddly unusual in a playful or eccentric way that makes it stand out from ordinary things.

例句

The cafe's cranky decor mixed old radios with painted birdcages.

cranky + decor/style for whimsically odd design

Aoi likes stories with a cranky sense of humor and sudden songs.

同義詞
  • quirky

    focuses on playful individuality and usually sounds positive

  • odd

    more neutral and broader; it does not always suggest charm

  • eccentric

    slightly more formal and often stronger than 'cranky'

反義詞

文法句型

cranky + decor/style/humor

look cranky

用法筆記

This sense is much less common than sense 1 and is mostly used for artistic style, decor, or humor. It describes odd character, not an irritable mood.