Synonyms of crab

crab 1 of 2

noun

as in bear

an irritable and complaining person

you're always such a crab in the morning!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bear
• complainer
• crank
• hunks
• mutterer
• curmudgeon
• sourpuss
• grump
• kicker
• growler
• grouser
• whiner
• griper
• fusser
• grumbler
• murmurer
• grouch
• crosspatch
• bellyacher
• party pooper
• killjoy
• sorehead
• spoilsport
• hypochondriac
• grinch
• defeatist
• crock
• faultfinder
• pessimist
• nagger
• malcontent
• repiner
• nitpicker
• quibbler
• objector

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• optimist
• Pollyanna
• happy camper

crab

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to complain

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

• complain
• scream
• whine
• beef
• kick
• bitch
• moan
• carp
• mutter
• grouse
• worry
• growl
• grumble
• squawk
• nag
• cry
• repine
• murmur
• squeal
• whimper
• gripe
• holler
• keen
• grizzle
• wail
• grouch
• bellyache
• inveigh
• bleat
• croak
• kick up a fuss
• grump
• protest
• fuss
• kvetch
• object (to)
• whinge
• caterwaul
• stew
• yawp
• yowl
• quarrel (with)
• yammer
• maunder
• blubber
• sob
• cavil
• quibble
• fret
• lament
• deplore
• bewail
• bemoan

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delight
• bear
• rejoice
• take
• accept
• crow
• tolerate
• endure
• cheer
• countenance
• commend
• applaud

2

as in to damage

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of

crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damage
• injure
• mar
• hurt
• compromise
• cripple
• bloody
• break
• harm
• weaken
• spoil
• flaw
• cross (up)
• destroy
• blemish
• impair
• batter
• erode
• disfigure
• ruin
• wound
• deface
• undermine
• wash out
• wear (away)
• endamage
• wreck
• vitiate
• deteriorate
• ding
• blight
• shatter
• demolish
• smash
• crush
• queer
• torture
• gum (up)
• enfeeble
• scourge
• scour
• tear down
• wipe out
• dent
• tarnish
• waste
• torment
• dash
• hamstring
• lacerate
• total
• enervate
• maim
• desolate
• clobber
• annihilate
• bash
• botch
• disable
• decimate
• devastate
• pulverize
• lame
• mutilate
• dint
• mangle
• bang up
• raze
• do in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• patch
• repair
• rebuild
• fix
• cure
• help
• reconstruct
• remedy
• renovate
• heal
• mend
• revamp
• rehabilitate
• rectify
• doctor
• better
• perfect
• improve
• recondition
• edit
• remodel
• revise
• enhance
• refine
• ameliorate
• enrich
• meliorate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crab

Noun

Begin with the luscious gazpacho—a great way to kick off juicy baby back ribs—the zingy duck liver terrine or the summer crab cake with corn succotash and basil aioli. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

The adults played pickup softball games in the adjacent lot and then came inside for a beer and Ellen McCarthy’s famous crab cakes. — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Verb

As the crabbing season gains momentum, Maryland watermen are grappling with a surge in operational expenses, led by high fuel prices that are forcing them to pass rising costs on to consumers. — Tessa Bentulan, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2026

For example, since both axles have the same degrees of steering, the Zoox robotaxi can crab walk far more effectively than the GM Hummer EV performing its party trick. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026