crooked

adjective

crook·​ed ˈkru̇-kəd How to pronounce crooked (audio)
Synonyms of crookednext
1
: not straight
a crooked road
Your tie is crooked.
2
: dishonest
a crooked election
crooked politicians
crookedly adverb
crookedness noun

Examples of crooked in a Sentence

a long, crooked line of people had formed in front of the ticket booth the common belief that gambling casinos are often crooked businesses
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The pair began to exchange words early in the second half, cracking the type of crooked smiles that hardly concealed the competitiveness driving both players to chirp and ridicule and needle one another on both ends of the court. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026 Bobbi boils with resentment and shame when Recife’s crooked police chief undermines his masculinity. Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 Stand back and check for any shingles that look lifted, crooked, or curled. Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026 Your mailbox is a small feature that can signal neglect if it’s dated, deteriorating, or crooked. Jane Kim, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crooked

Word History

Etymology

see crook entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crooked was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crooked. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

crooked

adjective
crook·​ed ˈkru̇k-əd How to pronounce crooked (audio)
1
: having bends and curves
a crooked path
2
: not set or placed straight
the picture is crooked
3
: dishonest
a crooked card game
crookedly adverb
crookedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on crooked

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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