Superlative form of cranky; the most irritable, bad-tempered, or crotchety.
From cranky (irritable) + -est (superlative suffix). The word cranky possibly derives from Dutch or German roots related to being bent or crooked.
People tend to be crankest in the early morning or when hungry—sleep deprivation and low blood sugar actually affect the same parts of your brain that control patience and emotional regulation.
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