# crooked

/ˈkɹʊkəd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crooked
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not straight

adjective · CEFR B2

having bends or curves; not straight or even.

For teachers: physically bent, curved, or twisted; lacking a straight or symmetrical form.

- The old man walked with a crooked stick he found in the woods.
- The narrow path followed a crooked line through the dense forest, winding around ancient trees and massive boulders.

### 2. tilted or uneven

adjective · CEFR B2

not in the correct position; leaning to one side.

For teachers: positioned at an angle; not vertical, level, or square.

- The picture on the wall is crooked; please straighten it.
- After the minor earthquake, several paintings in the gallery were left crooked, requiring the staff to spend hours realigning them.

### 3. dishonest

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

dishonest or illegal, especially regarding money or power.

For teachers: morally or legally corrupt; engaging in fraudulent or deceptive practices.

- The city had to fire the crooked politician for stealing tax money.
- The investigative journalist spent months uncovering the crooked dealings of the corporation's executive board.

### 4. grumpy

adjective · CEFR C2 · Dialect

feeling annoyed or in a bad mood.

For teachers: characterised by an ill-tempered or irritable disposition.

- Don't mind him; he's always a bit crooked before he has his morning coffee.
- The locals knew to avoid the shopkeeper when he was in a crooked mood, as he was prone to sharp remarks.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily found in Newfoundland English; learners should use 'grumpy' or 'irritable' in standard contexts.

## Examples

- The picture on the wall is a bit crooked.
- The old man walked slowly down the crooked path that led to the cottage.
- The investigation revealed a crooked scheme to divert public funds into private accounts through a series of shell companies.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.