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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Recent Examples of crooks
Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 5 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
And yes, crooks can handle this transfer of money in different ways, such as suggesting putting money in an Apple Cash account.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
For crooks, those are tantalizing numbers.
—Shaleen Devgun, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The crooks took off heading uptown on Broadway.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
The resulting four-part docuseries takes viewers into the newsroom to witness the unglamorous work of journalists cross-checking sources, fleshing out scoops and building investigations, all while being actively undermined by a president who denounced them as liars and crooks.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Your report just might help the cops catch the crooks.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 5 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
And yes, crooks can handle this transfer of money in different ways, such as suggesting putting money in an Apple Cash account.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
For crooks, those are tantalizing numbers.
—Shaleen Devgun, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The crooks took off heading uptown on Broadway.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
The resulting four-part docuseries takes viewers into the newsroom to witness the unglamorous work of journalists cross-checking sources, fleshing out scoops and building investigations, all while being actively undermined by a president who denounced them as liars and crooks.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crooks
Noun
-
Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Her Eco-Age consultancy, targeted by criminals and forced to close in 2024 after 17 years in business, had advised clients on industry developments, changes to government policies and practical guidance on how to avoid greenwashing.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, Morton would already be at 200 if one of his wild curves hadn't been so effective last month.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Gentle sweeps and curves are better than straight rows that merely repeat the legal lines of your property boundaries.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Yet Antonia isn’t fragile; her forceful imagination bends the others to her will.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The sides and top of the car were damaged, and the car appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 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
-
Insist that the federal government deploy those resources to get the violent offenders who are killing, assaulting and robbing law-abiding citizens on the city’s South and West sides.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
At the end of every successful criminal prosecution, one question hangs over the heads of offenders, victims and attorneys.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Just look at the curvatures displayed by the unique design setting it apart from the rest.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Its signature lies in fluid curvatures and elegant silhouettes that strike the perfect balance between understated and striking.—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
Start by understanding your audience and what actually hooks them on YouTube.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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To develop it, the research team incorporated mushroom heads or hooks directly into the building components.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As Powerball excitement sweeps the nation for hopeful gamblers, aspiring players in certain states shouldn't get their hopes up, and not because of the long odds to win.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Instead, its breathless, queasy energy sweeps us along.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooks. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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