Crankiness is that grumpy, irritable mood where small things bother you more than they normally would. When you're cranky, you might snap at your sister for humming, feel annoyed by your shoelaces coming untied, or get frustrated by homework that would usually seem easy.

Crankiness often comes from being tired, hungry, uncomfortable, or overwhelmed. A toddler gets cranky when they miss their nap. You might feel cranky after a long day at school or when you're coming down with a cold. Unlike true anger, which usually has a clear cause, crankiness makes everything feel slightly more annoying than it should.

A cranky person is someone experiencing crankiness, and we also call machines cranky when they're unpredictable or temperamental.

Most people recognize their own crankiness and know it will pass once they rest, eat, or deal with whatever's bothering them. When someone you know seems cranky, giving them space or a little patience often helps more than pointing out their mood.