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
The rule also failed to tackle all of the ways trusts and other vehicles provide impenetrable secrecy for the wealthy and the crooked alike. — Casey Michel, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 In Salinger’s narrative, Pencey is plagued by a population of troubled youth, crooked teachers, and spoiled rich kids, a mixture that often begat abuse. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 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
  • Emirates’ massive suite, which is perched over the center of Ashe, is being remodeled this year to emulate the spacious lounges and curved bar on its double-decker Airbus 380 planes.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The darkening will be incredibly subtle compared to that of a partial lunar eclipse, where the moon passes into Earth's intense inner shadow — the umbra — revealing our planet's curved silhouette on the lunar surface.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • Tashia McKenzie, 36, faces one count each of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits and second-degree larceny, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said in a news release Tuesday.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Verification can be particularly important because fraudulent job listings have become a concern for applicants and job platforms alike.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • But analysts say risks to oil prices remain tilted to the upside.
    — , CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Compared with tilted plastic rafts used in warmer climates, this design attaches flexible solar panels directly to thick, waterproof foam sheets, reducing wind exposure.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
Definition of tilted
Adjective
  • There are no controversies and any attempt to generate them is dishonest and disingenuous.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
  • If a claim is substantiated, the plagiarist is seen as sloppy or lazy at best, and fundamentally dishonest at worst.
    — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of dishonest
Verb
  • Engineers maintained extremely gentle gradients across long distances while using tunnels, channels, and arched bridges to cross uneven terrain.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The ceilings were arched and line with skylights, allowing natural light to illuminate the space.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of arched
Adjective
  • What happens next are the most dramatic and twisted moments of his life, as these mysterious events bring Sam face-to-face with his younger self.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Homes and businesses left intact after the flooding were still without electricity on Sunday, as twisted power line poles and wires lay tangled in the mud.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of twisted
Adjective
  • Meta will be subject to an injunction prohibiting it from making further false, misleading, or deceptive statements around its safety features.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The agency has said deceptive or unfair data practices can violate existing consumer protection laws.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • That is an unusually light amount of in-game preparation for a second-year quarterback learning a new offense, especially since Dart and the offense have had an uneven summer at best.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Together, these findings pointed to uneven conditions beneath the road.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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