Definition

The most irritable or easily annoyed person or thing.

Example

After a long day, he was the crankiest of all his friends.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

Have you noticed that he can be the crankiest person in the morning?

Absolutely! He needs his coffee before he can even smile.

Right? It’s almost like a switch flips after he drinks it.

Exactly! Then he’s totally fine for the rest of the day.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Crankiest → It is formed from "cranky" (originating from the dialectal English word "crank", meaning ill-tempered or irritable) and the suffix "-iest" (meaning most). The word "crankiest" means the most ill-tempered or irritable.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is the 'most irritable' — 'cranky' describes that mood, and '-iest' indicates the highest degree.

Visually Confused Words