crook 1 of 2

noun

Definition of crooknext
1
as in criminal
a person who has committed a crime a guy at the bar was raving about how all politicians are basically crooks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curve
something that curves or is curved carried the baby in the crook of her arm

Synonyms & Similar Words

crook

2 of 2

verb

ˈkru̇k How to pronounce crook (audio)
1
as in to hook
to cause to turn away from a straight line crooked a finger

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the road suddenly crooked to the left

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 crook
Noun
An east-west bag is a baguette style that’s longer in width than in height—think a slim, rectangular silhouette that typically sits on the shoulder or in the crook of your elbow. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 1 June 2026 The other thing is, Maduro wasn’t an ideologist either, and Maduro was a gangster and crook extraordinaire. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Verb
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 Had the train recently hosted the cast of Cirque du Soleil, perhaps, who insisted on descending head first, arms outstretched, after crooking one knee over the top rung? — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020 See All Example Sentences for crook
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crook
  1. criminal
  2. curve
  3. hook
  4. offender
  5. bend
  6. arch
  7. curvature
  8. angle
Noun
  • Data that appears to be compliance information to a regulator can appear to be a target list to a criminal.
    — Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The Colorado attorney general oversees more than 700 attorneys and staff and manages legal manners spanning consumer protection, civil rights, criminal, water, constitutional and environmental law.
    — Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of criminal
Noun
  • There can be some volatility in aging curves, especially at this point in a player’s career.
    — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • The implication for investors is that the belly of the yield curve — intermediate maturities in the three-to-seven-year range — offers an appealing balance of income and rate sensitivity.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of curve
Verb
  • Volunteer Sergio Rovelli said anyone who has dedicated their time to the project gets hooked.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • The entire plug was on the outside of the pike’s mouth—he couldn’t be hooked too solidly.
    — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Definition of hook
Noun
  • Independence Day celebrations come in the most challenging threat environment since 9/11, with the ongoing terror threat, a rise in political violence and continuing fears about lone-wolf offenders, according to Raia.
    — Luke Barr, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • There were also concerns listed in the analysis that the registry, which dates back to 1947, could include LGBTQ+ offenders from decades ago who were convicted of offenses that are no longer crimes.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of offender
Noun
  • Does the water take a sharp bend to enter the culvert?
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • Despite Iran’s threats, 20 of those ships had taken a route far south of Iran that hugs the coastline of the United Arab Emirates and bends along Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, avoiding Iranian waters.
    — Matthew Mulligan, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Definition of bend
Verb
  • When the rain cleared, a rainbow arched above the New York skyline.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Pay Attention to Plant Form Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026
Definition of arch
Noun
  • The greater the mass of the object, the more extreme the curvature and thus the greater the gravitational influence of that object.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 June 2026
  • This saves you a massive 42% on an elite display packing QHD resolution, blistering refresh rates and response times, and an immersive 1000R panel curvature.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026
Definition of curvature
Noun
  • And when Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte evened the score with a right footed shot from a difficult angle at the 59-minute mark, the stunned stadium went silent, minus two small spirited clots of Cape Verde fans in the East end zone seats.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Jónsdóttir forced a turnover in the 56th minute, dribbled and scored from a tight angle to double the lead for Angel City (5-6-1).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of angle

Phrases Containing crook

Browse Nearby Words

cronyism
crook
crooked
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Cite this Entry

“Crook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crook. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crook

Nglish: Translation of crook for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crook

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