crooked

crooked — adjective

1. having a shape that is not straight, smooth, or even — for example, a road that

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having a shape that is not straight, smooth, or even — for example, a road that bends left and right, or a picture that is not level on the wall.

Example

The crooked path led through the forest to a small wooden bridge.

crooked + noun describing physical objects

Léa noticed the painting was crooked and gently straightened it on the wall.

be + crooked in predicative position

Common collocations
  • crooked path
  • crooked line
  • crooked road
  • crooked street
  • crooked smile
  • crooked teeth
  • crooked fingers
  • crooked nose
  • crooked back
  • crooked picture
Synonyms
  • bent

    More general than crooked; can describe intentional bending (e.g. a bent paperclip), while crooked often suggests something that should be straight but is not.

  • twisted

    Stronger than crooked; suggests something has been forced or deformed out of shape, often with spirals or warps.

  • winding

    Used specifically for roads, paths, and rivers; suggests gentle, continuous curves rather than sharp bends or irregular shapes.

  • curved

    More neutral and often positive than crooked; describes a smooth, continuous arch or bow shape (e.g. a curved line, a curved bridge).

Antonyms
  • straight

    The most direct opposite — describes something that continues in one direction without bending.

Grammar Patterns

crooked + noun (a crooked line / a crooked path)

be / look / seem + crooked (The picture is crooked.)

Usage Note

Can describe lines, roads, body parts (crooked fingers, a crooked nose, a crooked smile), or objects that should be straight but are not. The comparative form is most commonly 'more crooked', though 'crookeder' is used informally. The opposite is 'straight'.

Common Mistakes

The road was very crook.
The road was very crooked.
'Crook' is a noun (a dishonest person or a bent tool), not an adjective. The adjective form is 'crooked'.
She has a crook finger.
She has a crooked finger.
Use the -ed adjective form 'crooked', not the noun 'crook'.

2. not honest and willing to lie, cheat, or break the law for personal money or adv

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

not honest and willing to lie, cheat, or break the law for personal money or advantage — for example, a public official who takes secret payments, or a business deal that is designed to trick people.

Example

The reporter spent two years investigating the crooked business deals in the city.

crooked + deal / business (attributive use with activities)

Paloma warned her friend not to work for the crooked landlord.

crooked + noun describing a dishonest person

Common collocations
  • crooked politician
  • crooked cop
  • crooked lawyer
  • crooked businessman
  • crooked deal
  • crooked scheme
  • crooked business
  • crooked system
Synonyms
  • dishonest

    A more general term than crooked; describes someone who lies or deceives, but not necessarily in a systematic or professional way.

  • corrupt

    More specific than crooked; describes people in positions of authority who accept bribes or misuse power for personal gain. More formal and common in legal contexts.

  • shady

    Informal alternative to crooked; describes something suspicious or of doubtful honesty, but the wrongdoing is less certain or clear than with 'crooked'.

  • fraudulent

    Formal and legal term; describes actions that involve deliberate deception for financial gain, such as fake documents or false claims.

Antonyms
  • honest

    The direct opposite — describes someone who tells the truth and follows the rules.

  • upright

    Describes someone with strong moral principles; suggests integrity and moral strength.

Grammar Patterns

crooked + noun referring to a person or activity (a crooked politician / a crooked deal)

be / seem / feel + crooked (The system seems crooked.)

Usage Note

Most commonly used before a noun (attributive position), describing people in positions of power or their actions. Stronger than 'dishonest' — it implies active wrongdoing and a pattern of cheating, not just a one-time failure to be truthful. Often appears in news reports about politics and business scandals.

Common Mistakes

He is a crook politician.
He is a crooked politician.
'Crook' is a noun meaning 'a dishonest person'. The adjective you need before a noun is 'crooked'.
The deal feels crook.
The deal feels crooked.
'Crook' is not an adjective. Always use 'crooked' when describing something dishonest.

Word family

  • crook
    nounB1
  • crookedly
    adverbB2
  • crookedness
    nounC1
  • crook
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe behaviour that lacks honesty, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Dishonest' is the broadest term — it applies to anyone who lies, cheats, or hides the truth, from a child who denies eating a cookie to a CEO who falsifies records. 'Crooked' adds a stronger sense of active, habitual wrongdoing, especially in power structures like politics or business. 'Corrupt' is more specific: it refers to people in positions of authority who accept bribes, twist rules, or misuse public money for private gain. 'Shady' is informal and less certain — it describes situations or people that seem suspicious, but the wrongdoing may not be proven. 'Fraudulent' is the most formal and is used in legal language for actions that involve deliberate deception for money, such as forging signatures or creating fake accounts. For example, a shopkeeper who overcharges tourists is dishonest; a crooked lawyer might hide evidence; a corrupt judge takes money to change a verdict; a shady deal may or may not be illegal; and a fraudulent loan application involves fake documents.

dishonest ↗corrupt ↗shadyfraudulent ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • very crooked
  • a bit crooked
  • slightly crooked
  • hopelessly crooked

Phrases

  • crooked as a corkscrew
  • crooked smile
  • crooked path
  • crooked line

Prepositions

  • crooked in
  • crooked with

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Middle English 'croked', the past participle of 'croken' (to bend), which comes from Old English 'crōc' meaning 'hook' or 'bend' — the same root that gave us 'crook' (a shepherd's staff with a hooked end). The physical meaning ('not straight') has been in the language since before the year 1200. By the 13th century, English speakers were already using 'crooked' to mean 'dishonest', following the old idea that a straight path is morally good, and anything bent or twisted away from that path is morally bad. This metaphorical extension is found in many languages and is not unique to English.