crooked — not straight; bent or twisted
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not straight; bent or twisted
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkrʊkɪd/
Example Sentences
- His crooked nose made him look like a cartoon villain, but he was actually the sweetest person ever.
- The crooked cop tried to frame an innocent man for stealing donuts.
- She drew a crooked heart on the card because she forgot her ruler at home.
crooked
ADJECTIVE[/ˈkrʊkɪd/]
not straight; bent or twisted

The old cottage had a crooked chimney that leaned dangerously to one side.

The pizza I cooked came out crooked when I looked!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Crooked derives from Middle English 'croked', the past participle of the verb 'crook' (to bend or curve). Originally, 'crook' referred to a shepherd's staff with a curved end, from which the literal sense of 'bent' or 'curved' developed. The meaning later extended metaphorically to signify moral dishonesty or corruption.
Breakdown
crook (to bend, curve) + -ed (past participle suffix forming an adjective). The base verb 'crook' likely derives from Old Norse 'krokr' (hook, bend), while the -ed suffix marks both past tense and adjectival formation.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His crooked nose made him look like a cartoon villain, but he was actually the sweetest person ever.”
“The crooked cop tried to frame an innocent man for stealing donuts.”
“She drew a crooked heart on the card because she forgot her ruler at home.”
“The witch's crooked finger pointed directly at the last cookie in the jar.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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