crooked 1 of 2

Definition of crookednext
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crooked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crook

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 willow out front, where the children used to play, was thick and crooked with age. Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026 Only in a few of the paintings is the mark clearly discernible as the crooked branch of a tree. Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 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 When other players noticed the rim was crooked, the Spurs' Jeremy Sochan jumped up and hung on it to try to straighten it out. Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crooked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crooked
Adjective
  • Jimmy Fairly’s exaggerated proportions and curved shield shapes feel perfectly aligned with that energy.
    Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
  • With its curved ceiling, the 120-seat auditorium serves not just as a film and laser show venue but also as a planetarium.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • As fraudulent accounts and collections are removed, your credit score should begin to recover.
    Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
  • Upon being taken into custody, officials said Werstine confessed to his true identity after he was allegedly found with fraudulent documentation and admitted to entering Panama illegally in 2005.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Citi maintained that risks to oil prices remain tilted to the upside, as Iran retains significant control over the timing and terms of any potential agreement to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz energy route.
    Sam Meredith,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 10 May 2026
  • California Democrats got so good at gerrymandering that by the 1980s, the wildly tilted maps had become a political issue themselves.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Musk attorney Steven Molo cited earlier testimony from OpenAI board members and former executives that Altman was dishonest and created a toxic culture of lying.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
  • The case, which has only recently come to the attention of POST officials, highlights the limits of state oversight even after lawmakers passed significant police reform aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Back on the highway, the rearview mirror showed the clouds had lifted, the waters were still, and a rainbow had arched across the sky.
    Marlise Kast-Myers, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Sami’s hair and beard were gray, and his thick eyebrows arched over his tired walnut eyes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The Aquazzura pair, the Twist 95, featured an open toe, a backless slide shape and two twisted straps across the front of the foot.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
  • As polished-glam and old-Hollywood as the references were, there were moments that also felt sleazy and fun in the way that Hollywood in 2007 did, when getting photographed pouring out of a car on the way into the club was a rite of passage and full of its own twisted promise.
    Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • The plaintiffs in the California suit claim they were misled by deceptive labeling when purchasing the product more than a dozen times in California stores.
    Itzel Luna, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
  • Patel’s complaint against FanDuel includes claims for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, conspiracy, and deceptive and unfair trade practices.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • These Italian suede sneakers feature a durable gum sole that’s perfect for a long day of walking without tripping over cobblestones or uneven pavement.
    Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026
  • Elsewhere, shopping was uneven.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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