1
as in criminal
a person who has committed a crime
a guy at the bar was raving about how all politicians are basically crooks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curve
something that curves or is curved
carried the baby in the crook of her arm
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to hook
to cause to turn away from a straight line
crooked a finger
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 crook
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
The new restaurant will expand upon the whimsical backstory of Crafty Coyote — the pie-thieving crook from the nearby Knott’s Bear-y Farm dark ride who has given up his outlaw ways to open the new eatery next door.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
Over the last decades, people are using smartphones and gadgets and living a working life by the computer with shoulders crooked forward.
—Vogue, 16 May 2019
See All Example Sentences for crook
Noun
Bad Bunny entered through a field of sugar cane and farmers at work, a football in the crook of his arm.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
The new restaurant will expand upon the whimsical backstory of Crafty Coyote — the pie-thieving crook from the nearby Knott’s Bear-y Farm dark ride who has given up his outlaw ways to open the new eatery next door.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Had the train recently hosted the cast of Cirque du Soleil, perhaps, who insisted on descending head first, arms outstretched, after crooking one knee over the top rung?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
Over the last decades, people are using smartphones and gadgets and living a working life by the computer with shoulders crooked forward.
—Vogue, 16 May 2019
See All Example Sentences for crook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crook
Noun
-
Whatley said those policies threaten law enforcement officers and public safety, arguing that criminals belong behind bars and pledging to continue backing law enforcement.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The decisive action of the Mexican government is positive for families on both sides of the border who suffer the devastating consequences of the activities of these transnational criminals.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This Madewell pair is made from high-quality denim with a subtle stretch to hug your curves and ensure all-day comfort.—
Jordan Julian,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Every other team in the NBA gets graded on a curve; bad breaks and reasonable expectations are accounted for in the score at season’s end.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On a few possessions, those smaller defenders also backed up under Jokic, reached backward with their arms and hooked them around his legs.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
-
So this was a way to hook listeners that a straightforward mystery novel might not.—
Ivy Pochoda,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Although when Brink was run from behind into the boards in the second period, Brock Faber took it upon himself to drop the gloves with the Vegas offender, earning a fighting major and a 10-minute misconduct.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Armond Langford, 32, is facing multiple charges including robbery, kidnapping, assault, wanton endangerment, fleeing/evading police, burglary and persistent felony offender.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If your hair is very straight, add a loose bend with a curling iron or straightener.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Navigating the subtle bends of the lake behind Englebright Dam, the vessel chugged across the otherwise still water, the late afternoon sun shimmering across the ripples in its wake.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Speckled with dark purple spots, the white to lavender flowers open along arching stems in late summer through fall.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Nike also made sure these sneakers had a wide forefoot, toe box, and arch, so your feet willnever feel cramped.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That curvature data is encoded as an explicit geometric prior and integrated into the model’s attention mechanism.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Its curvature is translated into an oversized shield silhouette with a forward cut-out construction that feels both technical and architectural.—
Taylor Stoddard,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But Laughton, making his Kings debut, got that back two minutes later, lining a low wrist shot from a tough angle off the pads of Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The blast went 389 feet, was 100 mph off the bat and had a 33-degree launch angle.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crook. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
