Crooks — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈkru̇k/

Meaning & Definition of Crooks

Crooks (verb)

  1. bend
  2. curve, wind

Crooks (noun)

  1. an implement having a bent or hooked form
  2. pothook
  3. a shepherd's staff

Crooks (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who has committed a crime

    "a guy at the bar was raving about how all politicians are basically crooks"

    similar: criminals, culprits, lawbreakers, malefactors, miscreants, offenders
    related: misdemeanants, accomplices, principals, desperadoes, outlaws, convicts, jailbirds, perpetrators, perps, evildoers, gallows birds, misdoers, misfeasors, sinners, transgressors, trespassers, villains, wrongdoers, blackhanders, button men, gangsters, hoodlums, hooligans, mobsters, racketeers, thugs, enforcers, gunmen, guns, gunsels (slang), hit men, triggermen, backsliders, recidivists, relapsers, repeaters, accused, arrestees, defendants, detainees, fish, suspects
    near: gangbusters, lawmen

  2. something that curves or is curved

    "carried the baby in the crook of her arm"

    similar: angles, arches, arcs, bends, bows, curvatures, curves, inflections, turns, winds
    related: kinks, warps, circles, ringlets, rings, rounds, coils, curlicues, curls, buckles, convolutions, flexures, folds, loops, spirals, swirls, twists, windings, incurvatures, reflections, declines, inclinations, inclines, slopes, corners, turnoffs, doglegs, hairpins

Crooks (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to turn away from a straight line

    "crooked a finger"

    similar: arches, bends, bows, curves, hooks, swerves
    related: arcs, rounds, incurvates, incurves, inflects, reflects, deflects, diverts, entwines, kinks, swirls, turns, twines, twists, veers, warps, coils, curls, enrolls, loops, spirals, dents, dimples, meanders, waves, weaves, winds, declines, inclines, slopes
    opposite: straightens, unbends, uncurls

  2. to turn away from a straight line or course

    "the road suddenly crooked to the left"

    similar: arches, arcs, bends, bows, curves, falls off, hooks, rounds, sweeps, swerves, trends, wheels
    related: circles, coils, curlicues, curls, loops, spirals, turns, twists, winds, deviates, veers
    opposite: straightens

Related Entry: Crook (noun)

Crook is a different word from Crooks. The synonyms below are for crook, not for crooks.

  1. a person who has committed a crime

    "a guy at the bar was raving about how all politicians are basically crooks"

    similar: criminal, culprit, lawbreaker, malefactor, miscreant, offender
    related: misdemeanant, accomplice, principal, desperado, outlaw, convict, jailbird, perp, perpetrator, evildoer, gallows bird, misdoer, misfeasor, sinner, transgressor, trespasser, villain, wrongdoer, blackhander, button man, gangster, hoodlum, hooligan, mobster, racketeer, thug, enforcer, gun, gunman, gunsel (slang), hit man, triggerman, backslider, recidivist, relapser, repeater, accused, arrestee, defendant, detainee, fish, suspect
    near: gangbuster, lawman

  2. something that curves or is curved

    "carried the baby in the crook of her arm"

    similar: angle, arc, arch, bend, bow, curvature, curve, inflection, turn, wind
    related: kink, warp, circle, ring, ringlet, round, coil, curl, curlicue, buckle, convolution, flexure, fold, loop, spiral, swirl, twist, winding, incurvature, reflection, decline, inclination, incline, slope, corner, turnoff, dogleg, hairpin

Related Entry: Crook (verb)

Crook is a different word from Crooks. The synonyms below are for crook, not for crooks.

  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 Crooks

The most common words with a similar meaning to Crooks:

criminals, culprits, lawbreakers, malefactors, miscreants, offenders, angles, arches, arcs, bends, bows, curvatures, curves, inflections, turns, winds, hooks, swerves, falls off, rounds, sweeps, trends, wheels

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Crooks

Words with the opposite meaning of Crooks:

straightens, unbends, uncurls

Related Words for Crooks

misdemeanants, accomplices, principals, desperadoes, outlaws, convicts, jailbirds, perpetrators, perps, evildoers, gallows birds, misdoers, misfeasors, sinners, transgressors, trespassers, villains, wrongdoers, blackhanders, button men, gangsters, hoodlums, hooligans, mobsters, racketeers, thugs, enforcers, gunmen, guns, gunsels

Near Antonyms of Crooks

gangbusters, lawmen

Word Forms of Crooks

Inflections: crooked, crooking

Origin & Etymology of Crooks

Middle English crok, from Old Norse krōkr hook

First known use: 12th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Crooks

What does "Crooks" mean?

"Crooks" means bend. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: bend. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Crooks"?

Other words for "Crooks" include criminals, culprits, lawbreakers, malefactors, miscreants, offenders, angles and arches. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Crooks" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Crooks"?

There are 108 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Crooks". Common alternatives include criminals, culprits, lawbreakers, malefactors, miscreants, offenders, angles, arches, arcs and bends.

What is the opposite of "Crooks"?

Antonyms of "Crooks" include straightens, unbends and uncurls. Near antonyms include gangbusters and lawmen.

How do you use "Crooks" in a sentence?

Examples of "Crooks" in a sentence: "a guy at the bar was raving about how all politicians are basically crooks"; "carried the baby in the crook of her arm"; "crooked a finger".

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

"Crooks" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Crooks"?

"Crooks" is pronounced /ˈkru̇k/.

What is the origin of the word "Crooks"?

"Crooks" comes from Middle English crok, from Old Norse krōkr hook. First known use: 12th centuryt.