ENGLISH
REFERENCE

crooked

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈkɹʊkəd// crooked

v. not straight or even. You use this to describe things that are bent, twisted, or dishonest.

v. deviating from a straight line or a regular shape; also used figuratively to describe dishonest or illegal conduct.


SIMPLE

The picture on the wall is a bit crooked.

CONTEXTUAL

The old man walked slowly down the crooked path that led to the cottage.

COMPLEX

The investigation revealed a crooked scheme to divert public funds into private accounts through a series of shell companies.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From crook, equivalent to crook + -ed.

Etymology 2

From Middle English croked, crokid, past participle of croken (“to crook, bend”). Cognate with Danish kroget (“crooked”). More at crook.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies or after a linking verb like 'look' or 'be'.

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