Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   Crab·bed

   /ˈkrabəd/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (of handwriting) ill-formed and hard to decipher: "his handwriting is crabbed and hideous" Similar crampedbadshakyscribbledspiderylaboredillegibleunreadableindecipherableOpposite boldclear
   • ▪ (of style) contorted and difficult to understand: "crabbed legal language"
   • 2. ill-humored: "a crabbed, unhappy middle age" Similar irritablefractiousfretfulcrosspetulantpettishcrabbycrotchetycantankerouscurmudgeonlydisagreeablemiserablemorosepepperyon edgeedgyimpatientcomplainingquerulousbittermoodyin a bad moodgrumpyhuffyscratchyout of sortsout of temperill-temperedbad-temperedill-naturedill-humoredpeevishsullensurlysulkysourchurlishtouchytestytetchysnappishwaspishpricklycrustybiliousliverishdyspepticspleneticcholericinformal:snappychippygrouchycrankynarkyrattyeggywhingywhingeinglike a bear with a sore headsoreheadsoreheadedpeckishsnakydated:miffyOpposite sweet-naturedeasygoingcharming

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘perverse, wayward’): from crab1, because of the crab's sideways gait and habit of snapping.

   Derivatives

   • 1. crabbedly adverb
   • 2. crabbedness noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • C

     3

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • B

     3

   • B

     3

   • E

     1

   • D

     2

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less