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
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Recent Examples of crabby
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
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
See All Example Sentences for crabby
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
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
See All Example Sentences for crabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crabby
Adjective
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They can be withdrawn or irritable.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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While Hockney worked, Auden, as the artist recalled, played the part of the impatient, irritable grump.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert, was abducted Thursday morning in Raimbol in the Bourdon neighborhood as the family traveled through the capital to see a doctor after a restless night caring for their sick daughter.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
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From Prince Harry and Princess Diana’s matching moments in the late ’80s to Prince Louis’s famously restless balcony appearances, each ceremony has delivered its share of lighthearted highlights.—
Staff Author,
InStyle,
13 June 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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All the usual fun Indy stuff is here – Nazis, treasured artifacts – though the bantering chemistry between Ford's hard-luck hero and Sean Connery as his grumpy dad is off-the-hook spectacular.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
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Could make for some grumpy residents around Foxboro.—
Greg Dudek,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, was still displeased with the larger spending plan, which is the largest in state history despite its minimal growth.—
Ben Szalinski,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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Not long after, Karlsson went to the locker room and Vegas’ athletic trainer whispered in coach John Tortorella’s ear, and the coach looked displeased.—
Rich Hammond,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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For example, check-in slowed by a cranky ankle was met with a surprise delivery of a bag of ice, while an inquiry into a local attraction was answered with immediate directions and a follow-up printout of the schedule.—
Carrie Bell,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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What started as a cranky shoulder in spring is a growing concern, given a slow recovery track and recent setback.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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The American right, too, is in a shifting, querulous state.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Fantasy managers were nervous about investing in Brown due to possible rotation but one per cent of them were rewarded with a goal, an assist and the scouting bonus.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Hundreds of thousands of fans, sitting in bars throughout the city, watched televisions in nervous silence.—
Jenna Thompson
June 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crabby. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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