Definition

1. Noun:
   • A hostile (usually anonymous) letter: A "crank letter" is a written communication, typically sent without the author's name, that expresses anger, threats, or irrational hostility towards the recipient.

Usage

• The term "crank letter" is used to describe a specific type of unsolicited, negative correspondence. It emphasizes the letter's malicious or irrational nature and its common characteristic of anonymity.
• It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The celebrity received a disturbing crank letter in the mail.
  • After the controversial article was published, the editor was inundated with crank letters.
  • The police advised her to save the crank letter as evidence.

Advanced Usage

• "to get/receive a crank letter": to be the target of such hostile correspondence.
  • Politicians often get crank letters from unhappy constituents.
• The concept can be extended metaphorically to describe similarly hostile digital communications, though the core term specifically refers to a physical or traditional letter.

Variants and Related Words

• Crank call (n): A hostile or harassing telephone call, typically made anonymously.
  • She reported the threatening messages as crank calls.
• Hate mail (n): Letters expressing hatred or prejudice, often overlapping with the meaning of "crank letter."
  • The campaign against online bullying also addresses the issue of hate mail.

Synonyms

• Poison-pen letter: A letter, often anonymous, written to malign or insult someone.
• Hate mail: Malicious correspondence targeting someone based on identity, beliefs, etc.

Antonyms

• Fan mail: Appreciative letters from admirers.
• Love letter: A letter expressing romantic affection.

Noun

1. a hostile (usually anonymous) letter