adverb
- in a bad-tempered, irritable, or grumpy manner
Usage: informal; chiefly North American
Examples
- He spoke crankly to the waiter about the cold coffee.
- She woke up crankly and refused to talk to anyone before breakfast.
- The old man crankly complained about the noise from the construction site.
- He responded crankly when asked to repeat himself.
- She crankly dismissed the suggestion without considering it.