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
-
On Tuesday, a total of 300 federal agents stormed a South Side apartment building that Department of Homeland Security officials say harbored criminals.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Columns speculated endlessly about the men in Mary’s life, her engagement to Daniel Payne and her connection to local criminals.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Levi's 311 Shaping Skinny Jeans Skinny jeans can be uncomfortable, but these ones from Levi’s are specifically designed with a tummy panel that smooths your mid-section and a stretchy fabric that hugs your curves.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The interior design by Francesco Paszkowski in collaboration with Margherita Casprini incorporates furniture with strong curves, rugs with shapes that define the spaces in a non-traditional manner.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
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Autocrats do not think that history bends toward justice.—
Richard Stengel,
Time,
1 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
-
The sting took place along Interstate 40, where officials found most offenders with unverifiable licenses behind the wheels of 80,000-pound 18-wheelers.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The opinion article, published in The Mercury News, argued that criminal-justice reforms had weakened consequences for serious offenders.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 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
-
Busstra then hooks the snake on a pole before pulling the reptile out of the box with his bare hands.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
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Create subheadlines that make one clear promise Your subheadline does the heavy lifting after your headline hooks them.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The music sweeps us up in the queasy thrill of revolt, but also in the heat and momentum of an impetuous romance.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The black or clear micro-mascara brush evenly sweeps the clear formula through each lash for grip and definition, while the precision clear seal tip targets the base to seal it all in for a seamless finish and natural look.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crooks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooks. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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