Crooked — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈkru̇-kəd/ crook·ed

Meaning & Definition of Crooked

Crooked (adjective)

  1. not straight
  2. dishonest

Crooked (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. marked by a long series of irregular curves

    "a long, crooked line of people had formed in front of the ticket booth"

    similar: bending, crazy, curled, curling, curved, curving, curvy, devious, serpentine, sinuous, tortuous, twisted, twisting, winding, windy
    related: zigzag, zigzagging, circling, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, looping, spiral, spiraling, swirling, circuitous, indirect, roundabout, meandering, rambling, wandering, irregular, jagged, uneven
    opposite: straight, straightaway
    near: direct, linear

  2. given to or marked by cheating and deception

    "the common belief that gambling casinos are often crooked businesses"

    similar: bent (chiefly British), deceptive, dishonest, double-dealing, duplicitous, fast, fraudulent, guileful, rogue, shady, sharp, shifty, underhand, underhanded
    related: unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, deceitful, deceiving, deluding, delusive, delusory, false, artful, beguiling, cagey, crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, subtle, wily, defrauding, devious, furtive, slippery, sneaking, sneaky, trickish, tricky, insidious, perfidious, treacherous
    opposite: aboveboard, honest, straight
    near: conscientious, decent, ethical, honorable, just, scrupulous, upright, forthright, straightforward

  3. inclined or twisted to one side

    "the photo on that wall is crooked"

    similar: askew, aslant, atilt, awry, cock-a-hoop, cockeyed, crazy, listing, lopsided, oblique, off-kilter, pitched, skewed, slanted, slanting, slantwise, tilted, tipping, uneven, out of plumb
    related: asymmetrical, unbalanced, unsymmetrical, contorted, disordered, distorted, irregular
    opposite: even, level, straight
    near: ordered, orderly, regular, uniform, balanced, symmetrical

  4. 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"

    similar: deceitful, defrauding, dishonest, double-dealing, false, fraudulent
    related: beguiling, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory, duplicitous, fallacious, misleading, specious, spurious
    opposite: aboveboard, honest, truthful
    near: legitimate, true, valid

Crooked (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to turn away from a straight line

    "crooked a finger"

    similar: arched, bent, bowed, curved, hooked, swerved
    related: arced, rounded, incurvated, incurved, inflected, reflected, deflected, diverted, entwined, kinked, swirled, turned, twined, twisted, veered, warped, coiled, curled, enrolled, looped, spiraled, dented, dimpled, meandered, waved, weaved, wound, declined, inclined, sloped
    opposite: straightened, unbent, uncurled

  2. to turn away from a straight line or course

    "the road suddenly crooked to the left"

    similar: arced, arched, bent, bowed, curved, fell off, hooked, rounded, swept, swerved, trended, wheeled
    related: circled, coiled, curled, curlicued, looped, spiraled, turned, twisted, wound, deviated, veered
    opposite: straightened

Related Entry: Crook (verb)

Crook is a different word from Crooked. The synonyms below are for crook, not for crooked.

  1. to cause to turn away from a straight line

    "crooked a finger"

    similar: arch, bend, bow, curve, hook, swerve
    related: arc, round, incurvate, incurve, inflect, reflect, deflect, divert, entwine, kink, swirl, turn, twine, twist, veer, warp, coil, curl, enroll, loop, spiral, dent, dimple, meander, wave, weave, wind, decline, incline, slope
    opposite: straighten, unbend, uncurl

  2. to turn away from a straight line or course

    "the road suddenly crooked to the left"

    similar: arc, arch, bend, bow, curve, fall off, hook, round, sweep, swerve, trend, wheel
    related: circle, coil, curlicue, curl, loop, spiral, turn, twist, wind, deviate, veer
    opposite: straighten

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Crooked

The most common words with a similar meaning to Crooked:

Chiefly British: bent
bending, crazy, curled, curling, curved, curving, curvy, devious, serpentine, sinuous, tortuous, twisted, twisting, winding, windy, deceptive, dishonest, double-dealing, duplicitous, fast, fraudulent, guileful, rogue, shady, sharp, shifty, underhand, underhanded, askew, aslant, atilt, awry, cock-a-hoop, cockeyed, listing, lopsided, oblique, off-kilter, pitched, skewed

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Crooked

Words with the opposite meaning of Crooked:

straight, straightaway, aboveboard, honest, even, level, truthful, straightened, unbent, uncurled

Related Words for Crooked

zigzag, zigzagging, circling, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, looping, spiral, spiraling, swirling, circuitous, indirect, roundabout, meandering, rambling, wandering, irregular, jagged, unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, deceiving, deluding, delusive, delusory, artful, beguiling, cagey, crafty

Near Antonyms of Crooked

direct, linear, conscientious, decent, ethical, honorable, just, scrupulous, upright, forthright, straightforward, ordered, orderly, regular, uniform, balanced, symmetrical, legitimate, true, valid

Word Forms of Crooked

Derived words: crookedly (adverb), crookedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Crooked

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Crooked

What does "Crooked" mean?

"Crooked" means not straight. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: not straight. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Crooked"?

Other words for "Crooked" include bending, crazy, curled, curling, curved, curving, curvy and devious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Crooked" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Crooked"?

There are 144 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Crooked". Common alternatives include bending, crazy, curled, curling, curved, curving, curvy, devious, serpentine and sinuous.

What is the opposite of "Crooked"?

Antonyms of "Crooked" include straight, straightaway, aboveboard, honest, even, level, truthful and straightened. Near antonyms include direct, linear, conscientious and decent.

How do you use "Crooked" in a sentence?

Examples of "Crooked" in a sentence: "a long, crooked line of people had formed in front of the ticket booth"; "the common belief that gambling casinos are often crooked businesses"; "the photo on that wall is crooked".

Is "Crooked" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Crooked" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Crooked"?

"Crooked" is pronounced /ˈkru̇-kəd/ and divided into syllables as crook·ed.

What is the origin of the word "Crooked"?

First known use: 13th century.