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crabby

adjective

ˈkra-bē How to pronounce crabby (audio)
Definition of crabbynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of crabby Lucy Van Pelt Lucy is the crabby kid who always has something up her sleeve. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026 Leah stayed crabby through dinner. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 Attend the Fiddler Crab Festival Every February over Presidents’ Day weekend, the three-day Fiddler Crab Festival brings crabby fun and community pride to Steinhatchee. — Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 5 July 2025 Her dissatisfaction with her crabby old husband drives her into the same state of amorous turmoil that Vanya and Sonya find themselves in. — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crabby
  1. irritable
  2. restless
  3. grouchy
  4. grumpy
  5. displeased
  6. cranky
  7. querulous
  8. nervous
Adjective
  • Coach There’s no better feeling than walking into your last show of the day, irritable and hungry, only to discover that snacks are being served.
    — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
  • If a relative or housemate seems irritable, ask what’s going on instead of working around the mood.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • Maybe beauty's scientists and creators were feeling particularly restless over this past year and wanted to challenge themselves.
    — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Two males and one female, the cubs were restless during vaccinations.
    — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Everything about it was meant to be a corrective against that straight white, grouchy private detective.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of grouchy
Adjective
  • And the younger bears are giving him plenty of reasons to be grumpy.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The film opens upon a typical grumpy New York day, with traffic snarling the streets and horns honking.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of grumpy
Adjective
  • The Wolverines looked out of sorts for most of the night, and Whittingham was visibly displeased with their performance.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Drinkwitz was displeased with just one sack and no takeways from the defense on the night.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of displeased
Adjective
  • Between these encounters Faye deals with vitriol from her cranky downstairs neighbors.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The bad news is that last month’s cranky, inhospitable vibes are bleeding into this month.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of cranky
Adjective
  • The American right, too, is in a shifting, querulous state.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
  • In fact, the B-2 bombers were still in the air with hours to go before reaching home when Van Hollen issued his querulous statement.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of querulous
Adjective
  • Gael is herself a little nervous, not only about the tension but about leaving Kayden.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Just after the sun melted into the sea a deer trotted by, followed by its more nervous baby.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of nervous

Browse Nearby Words

crabbing
crabby
crabs
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Cite this Entry

“Crabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crabby. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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