1
as in criminals
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 curves
something that curves or is curved
carried the baby in the crook of her arm
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in bends
to cause to turn away from a straight line
crooked a finger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trends
to turn away from a straight line or course
the road suddenly crooked to the left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crooks
Claire Cameron, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2025
But then these crooks take things one step further.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
But then these crooks take things one step further.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Set in a secret school for crooks, the series follows a group of students as they are taught to perfect their skills to bring balance, justice and order to the outside world.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
The potential for a showdown over crime in Chicago – not just between law enforcement and crooks but between the federal government and city leaders – is escalating.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Aaron Rose, security architect manager at cybersecurity firm Check Point Software, told Nexstar in an email that the crooks often use victims’ personal interests against them.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 30 Aug. 2025
Mark Ruffalo stars as veteran FBI agent Tom Brandis, who’s assigned to lead a task force to catch a gang of low-level crooks who’ve been putting on Halloween masks and ripping off local drug dealers, in a scheme reminiscent of Apple TV+’s recent Dope Thief.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
For crooks, those are tantalizing numbers.
—Shaleen Devgun, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
Le Parisien reported that the crooks made off with nine pieces of Napoleon and the Empress’ jewelry collection; on Sunday, only one item had reportedly been found — the Empress’ crown.
—Claire Cameron, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2025
But then these crooks take things one step further.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
But then these crooks take things one step further.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Set in a secret school for crooks, the series follows a group of students as they are taught to perfect their skills to bring balance, justice and order to the outside world.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
The potential for a showdown over crime in Chicago – not just between law enforcement and crooks but between the federal government and city leaders – is escalating.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Aaron Rose, security architect manager at cybersecurity firm Check Point Software, told Nexstar in an email that the crooks often use victims’ personal interests against them.
—Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 30 Aug. 2025
Mark Ruffalo stars as veteran FBI agent Tom Brandis, who’s assigned to lead a task force to catch a gang of low-level crooks who’ve been putting on Halloween masks and ripping off local drug dealers, in a scheme reminiscent of Apple TV+’s recent Dope Thief.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025
For crooks, those are tantalizing numbers.
—Shaleen Devgun, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crooks
Noun
-
To suggest that another candidate’s supporters are criminals — particularly when that candidate is, by all measures, poised to win at least a plurality of votes in the city — does not seem like a recipe for earning New Yorkers’ support.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Binance also lacked protocols — standard for financial services companies — to report transactions for money laundering risks, according to the Justice Department, and employees were well aware that such an oversight would invite criminals to the platform.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cardi appeared to shoot the clip either at home or an office of sorts, and in the visual, she is draped in a polka-dot dress, hugging her curves and pregnant belly.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Jocko seemed fascinated by all the parts of the motor, once complimenting the curves of the exhaust manifold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Uchis has built a reputation as a bilingual and genre-fluid artist who bends musical boundaries with ease.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
-
According to Einstein, massive objects shape the space around them, as their gravity bends space-time, curving paths of light rays near by.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Competition rises from the mid-40s in 2019 to 100 in much of 2021 and 2022, then trends down in 2024 and this year to a low of 32 in July.—
Nigel Chiwaya,
NBC news,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
All colors change under different lights, but white is one of the biggest offenders due to its highly reflective quality.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
-
This approach will ensure that this tool is aimed at giving the worst offenders a financial incentive to operate by the same set of rules as the rest of us.—
Wes Burdine,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Posture Changes Spine curvatures can make standing up straight difficult, causing lower right back pain.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In contrast to AirPods, these feature a sleek design that hooks over the ear and can be adjusted to ensure an extra secure grip.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Each episode hooks viewers with edge-of-your-seat action and builds to big, climactic moments.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The dark side is strong here, a current that sweeps around the apprentice, urging him, propelling him.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Maricopa County deputies, after getting 287(g) certified in 2007, carried out 11 immigration sweeps within five months outside a former furniture store in Phoenix that was a popular gathering spot for laborers.—
Rafael Carranza,
ProPublica,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooks. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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