1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
a crabby old dog who snapped at passersby
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restless
given to complaining a lot
a bunch of crabby kids who don't want to do any work
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crabby
Read the full Aries Daily Horoscope Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
In a crabby mood?
—
USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Take the Lishman’s Deli sketch, in which Murphy’s Gumby character — the green clay stop-motion figure reimagined as a crabby Borscht Belt has-been — trades insults with a gang of alter kockers played by Crystal, Guest and Short, who reminisce and argue about sandwiches named for celebrities.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
This time, however, she is joined by a crew consisting of an enthusiastic young engineer, a crabby senior farmer and a history-preserving storyteller.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 26 Nov. 2024
Like the earlier diss tracks — along with the crabbier bits of Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers — this one rejects the mantle of righteous warrior.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for crabby
USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Take the Lishman’s Deli sketch, in which Murphy’s Gumby character — the green clay stop-motion figure reimagined as a crabby Borscht Belt has-been — trades insults with a gang of alter kockers played by Crystal, Guest and Short, who reminisce and argue about sandwiches named for celebrities.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
This time, however, she is joined by a crew consisting of an enthusiastic young engineer, a crabby senior farmer and a history-preserving storyteller.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 26 Nov. 2024
Like the earlier diss tracks — along with the crabbier bits of Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers — this one rejects the mantle of righteous warrior.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for crabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crabby
Adjective
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Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
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On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Nigerian city of more than 20 million people is renowned for its hustle and bustle, its restless energy and commercial drive — a place where honks from signature yellow passenger buses fill the air.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Gainsbourg plays Charlotte’s protective sister, while Hellmann stars as a restless artist caught between love and loyalty and McAlpine plays a young aspiring dancer.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That Utah rideshare driver, however, was justifiable more grouchy.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Flockhart is equally supportive of Ford, having expressed her joy at watching her husband’s performance as the grouchy, oft-deadpan therapist.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The home crowd, grumpy and disillusioned a few weeks earlier, are now cheering the team off the pitch.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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All the fresh ingredients, inventive recipes, meticulous plating and glorious design means nothing if my food is served by a grumpy waiter or if my water glass is dirty.—
Lynne Sullivan,
The Providence Journal,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Gonzaga coach Mark Few, no doubt displeased that Santa Clara made seven of its first nine shots in the half, called for a timeout.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
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As great as Antetokounmpo is, the harsh reality is that every player who gets tied to trade proposals as a result of his availability is likely displeased to be part of that discussion.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The hater on the block is John Witherspoon as Play’s fast-talking, cranky old-head neighbor.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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Novelists, including great ones, can be a cranky bunch.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This canonical part has been played by some of the foremost women of the British stage, among them Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Edith Evans, who, in Anthony Asquith’s 1952 film adaptation, put a delightfully querulous spin on Lady Bracknell’s most indelible lines.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Nov. 2025
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Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
29 Feb. 2024
Adjective
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Given the snowy conditions and fatigue levels, these are nervous moments for the athletes, with mere seconds separating winning from losing.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Hollywood version The team may have been extra nervous given that the previous high-profile adaptation of The House of the Spirits was a 1993 movie in English starring Hollywood actors like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crabby. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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