crooked 1 of 2

Definition of crookednext
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crooked

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verb

past tense of crook

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
More than half a million residents live in NYCHA development plagued by chronic mold, broken elevators, and heating failures; others reside in subpar tenements run by crooked landlords. Darius Jones, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026 The company was ripped off over and over in more than 100 crooked transactions, the agreement said. Steve Patterson, Florida Times-Union, 10 Feb. 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
Adjective
  • The shoes balance atop a curved, dagger heel.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Yukibana is the buzzy heartbeat of the hotel, with its curved seating, walls of windows, and chandeliers made of deer antlers.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Overall, the racket generated almost $600 million in fraudulent billings.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
  • During the hearing, prosecutors said, Hamdan admitted to using his two pharmacies to submit false or fraudulent prescription claims.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The Escalade also offers a large head up display and a tilted control panel to provide quick access to climate and other functions.
    Scotty Reiss, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Naturally, Uranus' tilted rotation has a part to play in how auroral activity manifests on the planet.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • This is incredibly misleading, dishonest and self-serving.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
  • In The Corner That Held Them, rarely does desire raise its head as the nuns busy themselves with dishonest bishops, honest con men, collapsing spires, inconclusive visions, ecclesiastical intrigues, catty infighting, attempts at levitation, and the plague.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Back on the highway, the rearview mirror showed the clouds had lifted, the waters were still, and a rainbow had arched across the sky.
    Marlise Kast-Myers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Engage your core so that your back is flat (not arched or rounded).
    Jenny McCoy, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • And the urgent question is which Democrats are electable at a time when political norms are being tested and twisted.
    Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Donkoh collapsed to the floor late in the first half with a twisted ankle and had to be helped off the court.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The felony charges are forgery and deceptive or fraudulent business practices.
    Michael Guise, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • All clever touches and deceptive movement, this was the Eze Arsenal couldn’t bear to miss out on.
    Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Walking on uneven terrain … requires the smaller stabilizing muscles in your ankles to become more active to maintain a neutral position and balance.
    Ryleigh Nucilli, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026
  • If the area is still uneven after a couple of weeks, repeat the process, but apply only about 1/2 inch of leveling mix at a time until the ground is level.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooked. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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