crony

noun

ˈkrō-nē How to pronounce crony (audio)
Definition of cronynext
1
as in associate
a person frequently seen in the company of another the criminal's cronies were also closely questioned about the illegal gambling operation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in friend
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another only my cronies can call me by my nickname

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crony Trump and his people had information about a threat clear enough that the president, the defense secretary, and a few cronies were diverted from the aircraft. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026 Other aides and crony capitalists in his circles are of a similar age. — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026 Just as Sky was going up for a moonsault, Morgan’s Judgment Day cronies got involved. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Ilham Aliyev continued his father’s dictatorial legacy, imprisoning his critics and enriching his family and cronies, while polishing his country’s image by hosting Formula One events and the Eurovision Song Contest. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crony
  1. associate
  2. friend
  3. colleague
  4. buddy
  5. accomplice
  6. peer
  7. comrade
Noun
  • Sara Matar, formerly the division’s chief of staff, joined the White House counsel’s office in August as an associate.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Clients and friends of Moncler, students from Parsons School of Design, and members of Leibovitz’s circle of friends and associates, will be attending.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of associate
Noun
  • The friend and my father took my older sister and me out for a walk, and, at a nearby schoolyard, the man hung the camera on an exercise bar.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
  • May his struggles never dim the memories of a sweet man, a dear friend, and a master musician.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of friend
Noun
  • Wang failed her first attempt to defend her dissertation and became envious of her colleague's success in discovering how to deliver RNA to human cells using bacteria, Gomelsky told The Associated Press.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • New Skydance content sales chief David Decker was all smiles at the WBD stand, able to look over and see his new Paramount colleagues just along the beachfront.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of colleague
Noun
  • Keith David, Macon Blair, Killer Mike, Cody Lightning, Siena East, and Michael Hitchcock all return as some of Lee’s Tulsa-area buddies, employees, and resentful acquaintances.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Mitt’s old fishing buddy Hewey (John Ortiz) tells Jay that his father plunged into the ocean at the edge of a steep underwater canyon off Monastery Beach, so that’s where Jay is headed.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of buddy
Noun
  • Murdaugh’s lawyers also demanded any evidence prosecutors have of possible accomplices or a grand jury investigation into them.
    — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Kids made good accomplices, tasked with sneaking off on a hunt for the bill.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of accomplice
Noun
  • The influence of Black American music was absent from not just their Warwickshire peers at the time, but all of the dour indie milieu toiling under Thatcher’s grey skies.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fifty percent plan to increase investment, compared with 18% of boomer owners, and 71% expect revenue growth, versus 51% of their older peers.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of peer
Noun
  • The film opens in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War as a small rural village prepares to welcome Italian comrades but is instead met by gunfire and bombs.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That gadfly had enlisted a comrade in his campaign against his mother.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of comrade

Browse Nearby Words

cronies
crony
cronyism
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Cite this Entry

“Crony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crony. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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