crooked 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkru̇-kəd How to pronounce crooked (audio)
Definition of crookednext
1
as in curved
marked by a long series of irregular curves a long, crooked line of people had formed in front of the ticket booth

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2
as in fraudulent
given to or marked by cheating and deception the common belief that gambling casinos are often crooked businesses

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3
as in tilted
inclined or twisted to one side the photo on that wall is crooked

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4
as in dishonest
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value a crooked scheme to bill the government for medical services never performed

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crooked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crook
1
as in arched
to cause to turn away from a straight line crooked a finger

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2
as in rounded
to turn away from a straight line or course the road suddenly crooked to the left

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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 crooked
Adjective
There’ll be something else to keep the crooked numbers away, don’t worry. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 2 July 2026 His crooked nose honked like a kazoo. — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
Verb
Two days after the Knicks were booed frequently while trailing by 30 points in the first half of their 114-97 loss to Dallas, the scoreboard was crooked in their favor. — CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026 Her most unusual feature was her teeth, which were crooked in a way that reminded me of a spiral staircase. — Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crooked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crooked
  1. curved
  2. fraudulent
  3. tilted
  4. dishonest
  5. arched
  6. twisted
  7. deceptive
  8. uneven
Adjective
  • Grand Victorians, generous prewars, scalloped trims, curved passageways, impossibly high ceilings, and hardwood floors for days.
    — Nora DeLigter, Curbed, 24 July 2026
  • Experts created a curved support structure to place the fragments in the design that replicates the original shape of the vault.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • Under federal law, persons who 'knowingly and willfully … make any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation' to Congress may be subject to penalties.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 July 2026
  • Mind you, Miss Manners agrees with your indignation at this fraudulent maneuver.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • Compared with tilted plastic rafts used in warmer climates, this design attaches flexible solar panels directly to thick, waterproof foam sheets, reducing wind exposure.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
  • Citi maintained that risks to oil prices remain tilted to the upside, as Iran retains significant control over the timing and terms of any potential agreement to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz energy route.
    — Sam Meredith,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 10 May 2026
Definition of tilted
Adjective
  • But 52% of employees in that same study believe their company's efforts to be empathetic are dishonest.
    — Dennis Kozak, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The state agency said clinic staffers had clients sign a personal injury waiver, which the commission said was unenforceable, against public policy and deceptive and dishonest.
    — Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 2026
Definition of dishonest
Verb
  • The ceiling is arched and lined with skylights to allow for light in walkway.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
  • When the rain cleared, a rainbow arched above the New York skyline.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of arched
Adjective
  • Visitors will enter the Price family’s secluded vacation home in the woods, succumb to ferocious flesh-eating Deadites and pass through other twisted scenes from the latest movie in the Evil Dead Burn haunted house.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 July 2026
  • Massive Attack, Tricky’s alma mater, once trod similar ground, and several songs here bring to mind their own twisted rock opus Mezzanine, for better or worse.
    — Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
Definition of twisted
Adjective
  • At 6ft 3in (190cm) with unconventional movement mechanics, he is likened to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike for his deceptive play.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Distinguished by unique morphological features like a longer tail and specific tooth structure, alongside genetic evidence, the stingray's identification underscores the complexity of taxonomy where appearances can be deceptive.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • The First Circuit's decision applies only to the 23 states that sued over the executive order, possibly creating an uneven legal landscape between red and blue states.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • That Seigler homer started a run of uneven outings for Minter, who allowed another two-run homer on Friday night to Kyle Tucker.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of uneven

Browse Nearby Words

crook
crooked
crookedness
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Cite this Entry

“Crooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooked. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of crooked for Spanish Speakers

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