1
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crabbing
Remains found on a beach in southwestern Washington in 2006 have been identified through DNA analysis as a former Oregon mayor who authorities think drowned while crabbing.
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Officials believed Rajaniemi was alone and had been crabbing in the area, a Coast Guard official told The Press Democrat.
—Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Go crabbing, clamming, hiking, or mushroom foraging with a guide, head out for a fat-tire bike ride, or enjoy a beach bonfire, already set up for you, for the coziest way to end a day on the coast.
—Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
Fewer people are working in the industry each year, said Duarte, and crabbing is a difficult industry with a short season, and costly upkeep for boats and traps.
—Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Officials believed Rajaniemi was alone and had been crabbing in the area, a Coast Guard official told The Press Democrat.
—Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Go crabbing, clamming, hiking, or mushroom foraging with a guide, head out for a fat-tire bike ride, or enjoy a beach bonfire, already set up for you, for the coziest way to end a day on the coast.
—Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
Fewer people are working in the industry each year, said Duarte, and crabbing is a difficult industry with a short season, and costly upkeep for boats and traps.
—Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crabbing
Verb
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More recently, a project to construct community hubs for each of Harvey’s six wards has been in limbo, with residents complaining about the blight created by the unfinished construction sites at the most recent City Council meeting.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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Everybody’s complaining about somebody.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Strikes have continued throughout the weekend, killing civilians, damaging property and bringing air and water traffic to a standstill.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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The death toll rose to 22 on Saturday from the crash of a military plane carrying 18 tons of new banknotes a day earlier near Bolivia’s capital, damaging about a dozen vehicles and scattering bills on the ground, a police commander said Saturday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Something changed, though, because the next morning, Van Lent and Eikenberg entered into a screaming match in Naja’s office for everyone to see.—
Michael Adno,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
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In a post on Monday, the rescue said Denali has been screaming in pain and doesn't want to eat or get up.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
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Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, along with Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren, were ejected for fighting, marring what was an intriguing game between the top team in the Eastern Conference and the one featuring the NBA’s longest current win streak.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After months and months of ceaseless whining about the doxxing of ICE agents, there hasn’t been a single peep from Attorney General Pam Bondi about the future of facial recognition in Meta glasses.—
Sarah Jeong,
The Verge,
1 Mar. 2026
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Extra points are awarded here to families who avoid any whining about this.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Over the course of just one minute, the gunman sailed down the city’s bustling Sixth Street and then exited his car, firing off even more bullets, ultimately killing three people and injuring 13 others before he was fatally shot by police.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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In Skokie, an Iranian-American can’t get through to communicate with his father in Iran after a bomb fell in the father’s neighborhood, injuring him.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While Slot was moaning about having to play two away matches in four days (and about missing a couple of key players), Emery, also without important figures such as Boubacar Kamara, was overseeing his Villa side playing the same tough schedule and win both games without conceding a goal.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Stocks had a rough session Friday on the worries about AI hurting the economy that have been dogging the market for weeks.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
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Better to clear the air, and establish better communication for next time, than to break up hurting.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crabbing. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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