as in bears
an irritable and complaining person
you're always such a crab in the morning!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in damages
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 crabs
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
That's when the crabs are out there.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 3 May 2026
These for the ones who joan and crack crabs with they aunties… My Blue Crab Babies!
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 May 2026
Catch some crabs in the salt marsh at Oyster Landing, then buy a few pounds of shrimp from Seven Seas Seafood to throw in the pot with them.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
Choices from its prix fixe menu include savory olive bread pudding with mushrooms and leeks, Maryland soft-shell crabs wrapped in phyllo dough and bourbon-cacao cake.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
The tide pools around Haystack and elsewhere along Cannon Beach are extraordinary, with colorful sea stars, anemones, crabs, snails, coral, sponges, and sea slugs.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
As omnivores, North American river otters eat fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents and insects.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
North American river otters are omnivores, feeding on fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents and insects.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
Many fish live, hide and eat the small shrimp and crabs that are within the seaweed, which made her snorkeling adventure more exciting.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
That's when the crabs are out there.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 3 May 2026
These for the ones who joan and crack crabs with they aunties… My Blue Crab Babies!
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 May 2026
Catch some crabs in the salt marsh at Oyster Landing, then buy a few pounds of shrimp from Seven Seas Seafood to throw in the pot with them.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
Choices from its prix fixe menu include savory olive bread pudding with mushrooms and leeks, Maryland soft-shell crabs wrapped in phyllo dough and bourbon-cacao cake.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
The tide pools around Haystack and elsewhere along Cannon Beach are extraordinary, with colorful sea stars, anemones, crabs, snails, coral, sponges, and sea slugs.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
As omnivores, North American river otters eat fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents and insects.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
North American river otters are omnivores, feeding on fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents and insects.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crabs
Noun
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On YouTube, prospecting influencers post videos of themselves fending off bears and spelunking down old mines.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Dončić’s recovery from his left hamstring strain bears monitoring.—
John Riker,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Nobody visiting a nuclear facility complains about the onerous security features.—
Juliette Kayyem,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Lauersdorf is always willing to answer constituent concerns, and never complains, said Heritage Homeowners’ Association vice president Jennifer Samuels in a Facebook post promoting the fundraising effort.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But over time, as the virus damages the heart, lungs or kidneys, patients can suffer severe shortness of breath, organ failure and even die.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
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The same is true of excess water, which damages roots and causes plant stress.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
Noun
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The pervasive popularity of the show and its creator will be the reason the complainers have no voice.—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
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If family needs cause drama, set kind boundaries and explain them to any complainers.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the recording, which lasts over an hour, continues, Athena’s screams can be heard.—
Jamie Stengle,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Everything about him screams of a boy who was born to play the game.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
No sadness mars the purity of its paranoia.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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However, an earnestness mars most of the proceedings.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
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Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This storyline later appeared in the second season of Girls, as Dunham’s character Hannah is overwhelmed with the anxiety of writing a novel and similarly injures herself.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
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In her desperation to ask Val for a job on the new sitcom, Sharon falls and injures herself.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crabs. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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