crooked 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkru̇-kəd How to pronounce crooked (audio)
Definition of crookednext
1
as in curved
marked by a long series of irregular curves a long, crooked line of people had formed in front of the ticket booth

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2
as in fraudulent
given to or marked by cheating and deception the common belief that gambling casinos are often crooked businesses

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3
as in tilted
inclined or twisted to one side the photo on that wall is crooked

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4
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

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crooked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crook
1
as in arched
to cause to turn away from a straight line crooked a finger

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2
as in rounded
to turn away from a straight line or course the road suddenly crooked to the left

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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
Hang your porch swing crooked or prop scrap of wood across your windows to make it look boarded up. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026 An incoming generation, simply by their existence, dislodged a crooked anxiety that the new face of Asian America is Wasian. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 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
  1. curved
  2. fraudulent
  3. tilted
  4. dishonest
  5. arched
  6. twisted
  7. deceptive
  8. uneven
Adjective
  • At the center of the sprawling property is a 10,500-square-foot residence, accessible via a mile-long drive that winds through forest and across a curved stone bridge.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The silhouette was elevated by a curved stiletto heel, a defining element in Matières Fécales and Christian Louboutin’s designs.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • Philadelphia police are also working with GoFundMe to prevent fraudulent fundraisers, the department said in a post on Facebook.
    — Laura Fay, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Dispute fraudulent charges and accounts, follow up on your identity theft report and request that fraudulent information be removed from your credit reports.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • The tilted surfaces were mostly chosen to mimic raindrops in the real world.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But analysts say risks to oil prices remain tilted to the upside.
    — , CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tilted
Adjective
  • Of course, there are also age-old hustles so evidently dishonest that there was a time when their exponents risked being hung or shot.
    — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Like the president, Vance describes Democrats as dishonest, pandering, and often stupid.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of dishonest
Verb
  • This is the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland, complete with turrets, arched windows and red stone walls.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In subsequent images, Sweeney arched her back while laying on a basketball on the ground, slung a wooden baseball bat over one shoulder, and covered her body with a silver hockey stick.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of arched
Adjective
  • Hutch seemed unhurt beyond a twisted knee, but Ed, stripped naked, was a mass of small cuts and bright greening bruises that made an awful background for ridges of clotted blood.
    — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Season 2 sees Boehm (Thompson) and Trafford (Wilson) chasing down another twisted mystery.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of twisted
Adjective
  • The Idaho Consumer Protection Act, enacted in 1971, protects consumers from false, deceptive or misleading representations, advertising, pricing and contracts.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026
  • What Apple says about suspicious iMessages Apple says this type of deceptive messaging uses social engineering, a tactic in which scammers rely on impersonation and manipulation to persuade people to share personal information.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • Rising case rates in women under 50, new federal rules on breast density notification and the uneven rollout of 3D mammography are reshaping when and how women get screened.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Grass, uneven ground, tiny puddles, and random objects can become major obstacles when the machine is barely taller than them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven

Browse Nearby Words

crook
crooked
crookedness
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Cite this Entry

“Crooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooked. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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