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 pair began to exchange words early in the second half, cracking the type of crooked smiles that hardly concealed the competitiveness driving both players to chirp and ridicule and needle one another on both ends of the court. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026 Bobbi boils with resentment and shame when Recife’s crooked police chief undermines his masculinity. Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 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
  • Tap the curved line at the top of the page to see your data charted over time, and use the buttons at the bottom of the chart to change which metric is displayed.
    Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The first photo taken by commander Reid Wiseman shows a curved slice of Earth in one of the capsule’s windows.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In another case, Nita Almuete Paddit Palma, 76, and her husband, Adolfo Catbagan, 68, are accused of operating three fraudulent hospice care facilities, including one that was operating while Palma was free on bond in another hospice fraud case.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Medicare paid the Gills more than $4 million on the fraudulent claims.
    Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The Escalade also offers a large head up display and a tilted control panel to provide quick access to climate and other functions.
    Scotty Reiss, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Naturally, Uranus' tilted rotation has a part to play in how auroral activity manifests on the planet.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Asked about those allegations, Grossi said his role is to provide technical expertise, not to weigh in on whether Iran was honest or dishonest.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • This is dishonest and partisan.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Sami’s hair and beard were gray, and his thick eyebrows arched over his tired walnut eyes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Engage your core and keep your back relatively flat (not arched or rounded).
    Jenny McCoy, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The vehicle smashed through barricades and concrete, racing down a hallway before becoming lodged in the twisted wreckage.
    Gayle Pearlstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The quiet cobblestoned streets and nearby architectural gems like the Woolworth Building compliment the property’s New York-twisted whimsy, and the wide, quiet streets aid an already relaxing atmosphere inside.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Also, offering free samples is deceptive marketing, due to evidence that 7-OH is addictive.
    Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Set in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the grandiosity of MoMA is deceptive.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Accessibility Due to Lupaia’s location on a steep hilltop with gravel pathways and naturally uneven grounds at various levels, this resort is not wheelchair accessible.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The truth is that the track record for Olympic host cities is pretty uneven.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crooked. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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