CRABBED Synonyms: 284 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'crabbed' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of crabbed are gloomy , glum , morose , saturnine , sulky , sullen , and surly . While all these words mean "showing a forbidding or disagreeable mood," crabbed applies to a forbidding morose harshness of manner. // the school's notoriously crabbed headmaster

Q: In what contexts can 'gloomy' take the place of 'crabbed'?

The synonyms gloomy and crabbed are sometimes interchangeable, but gloomy implies a depression in mood making for seeming sullenness or glumness. // a gloomy mood ushered in by bad news

Q: When might 'glum' be a better fit than 'crabbed'?

While in some cases nearly identical to crabbed , glum suggests a silent dispiritedness. // a glum candidate left to ponder a stunning defeat

Q: How do 'morose' and 'glum' relate to one another, in the sense of 'crabbed'?

Morose adds to glum an element of bitterness or misanthropy. // morose job seekers who are inured to rejection

Q: When is 'saturnine' a more appropriate choice than 'crabbed'?

The meanings of saturnine and crabbed largely overlap; however, saturnine describes a heavy forbidding aspect or suggests a bitter disposition. // a saturnine cynic always finding fault

Q: When can 'sulky' be used instead of 'crabbed'?

In some situations, the words sulky and crabbed are roughly equivalent. However, sulky suggests childish resentment expressed in peevish sullenness. // grew sulky after every spat

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sullen' instead of 'crabbed'?

The words sullen and crabbed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sullen implies a silent ill humor and a refusal to be sociable. // remained sullen amid the festivities

Q: When would 'surly' be a good substitute for 'crabbed'?

While the synonyms surly and crabbed are close in meaning, surly implies gruffness and sullenness of speech or manner. // a typical surly teenager

crabbed 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of crabbed next

as in sullen

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crabbed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crab

as in complained

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip

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as in damaged

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding

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How is the word crabbed different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of crabbed are gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, sullen, and surly. While all these words mean "showing a forbidding or disagreeable mood," crabbed applies to a forbidding morose harshness of manner.

the school's notoriously crabbed headmaster

In what contexts can gloomy take the place of crabbed?

The synonyms gloomy and crabbed are sometimes interchangeable, but gloomy implies a depression in mood making for seeming sullenness or glumness.

a gloomy mood ushered in by bad news

When might glum be a better fit than crabbed?

While in some cases nearly identical to crabbed, glum suggests a silent dispiritedness.

a glum candidate left to ponder a stunning defeat

How do morose and glum relate to one another, in the sense of crabbed?

Morose adds to glum an element of bitterness or misanthropy.

morose job seekers who are inured to rejection

When is saturnine a more appropriate choice than crabbed?

The meanings of saturnine and crabbed largely overlap; however, saturnine describes a heavy forbidding aspect or suggests a bitter disposition.

a saturnine cynic always finding fault

When can sulky be used instead of crabbed?

In some situations, the words sulky and crabbed are roughly equivalent. However, sulky suggests childish resentment expressed in peevish sullenness.

grew sulky after every spat

When is it sensible to use sullen instead of crabbed?

The words sullen and crabbed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sullen implies a silent ill humor and a refusal to be sociable.

remained sullen amid the festivities

When would surly be a good substitute for crabbed?

While the synonyms surly and crabbed are close in meaning, surly implies gruffness and sullenness of speech or manner.

a typical surly teenager

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 crabbed

Adjective

This is a crabbed and mendacious interpretation of the law. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024 Tár, though, displays little more than crabbed irritability and self-serving cynicism. —

Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2022 No one can accuse this Court of having a crabbed view of the reach of its competence. —

WSJ, 27 June 2019 The core error here is the Texas Supreme Court’s crabbed understanding of Obergefell. —

Dale Carpenter, Washington Post, 2 July 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crabbed

Adjective

My father was also sullen from the vodka, and after grumbling some would fall asleep on his grungy sleeper berth.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
And Venter’s fiery and edgy Jessie May is sullen, controlling and cruel.

— Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

Definition of sullen

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“Crabbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crabbed. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 14 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

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