crooked 1 of 3

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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

crookedness

2 of 3

noun

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
My crooked smile was still evident two months after my treatment. Mary Honkus, Allure, 29 Apr. 2025 But that jubilation quickly turns into a night of violence when Coop is beaten within an inch of his life by two guys hired by a crooked art gallery owner who put overly aggressive moves on his partner in crime Elena (Aimee Carrero). Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 9 May 2025 In the new season’s third episode, Charlie helps Beatrix solve the murder of her husband Jeffrey (Richard Kind) by crooked FBI agent Danny (John Mulaney), and in return, Beatrix agrees to call off the hit. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2025 There has never been a president in this country in the history that was persecuted like I was persecuted by really crooked people. Abc News, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crooked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crooked
Adjective
  • In 2024, Nicolás Maduro won his reelection in a race contested as fraudulent by the opposition.
    Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 19 May 2025
  • Real examples: Six people were charged with attempting to steal $80 million through fraudulent checks tied to COVID-19 relief funds.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • There's also research showing that AI agents can easily be subversive, self-serving and dishonest in their actions.
    Lisa Loud, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • That’s a fact, so saying otherwise is dishonest and can lead to confusion.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • As an escaped convict posing as a beloved preacher, and as his gentle, upright twin, Robeson embodies a devastating split between appearance and truth, and whose uncanny doubling plays out in a community shaped by racial violence, spiritual deception, and economic precarity.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 May 2025
  • Ellie, however, cannot abide Joel’s deception, and interrupts to tell the truth to Gail, who then slaps Joel and tells him to leave.
    Adam B. Vary, Variety, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Long-time nemesis Brad Marchand scored the winner for the Panthers on a twisted wrister that banked off Rielly before zipping past goalie Joseph Woll.
    Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • The lustful reggaeton-bachata song about a twisted love affair would shock fans upon its release in the spring of 2005.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, filed a suit against ExxonMobil last year that, in part, accuses the oil giant of deceptive claims regarding chemical recycling, which the company disputes.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
  • During the defense’s cross-examination of Kid Cudi, lawyers representing Combs portrayed Ventura as deceptive of both men.
    Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Bread crumbs • Props to the hair, makeup, and costuming departments for differentiating Kiki’s Simone from pre-Michaela Simone, who showed up to the island with a scraggly ponytail, a gray button-down, uneven skin, and scrawled tattoos.
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 23 May 2025
  • Case for caution: On the flip side, skeptics point to the uneven performances, particularly internationally, and concerns about his hockey sense.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Now their weird discomfort with disease—and their outré views on cancer in particular—is being refracted through a sea of false, indecent speculations.
    Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
  • The temperature of online discourse can often provide a false reading of a fanbase’s opinion on a manager or a team.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Lia Thomas stole a medal through deceit, and this rag has the gall to call him a 'champion'?
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • Maeve doubles down on her deceit, lying to Conrad to cover her own ass.
    EW.com, EW.com, 11 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooked. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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