crabbed

American  

[krab-id, krabd] / ˈkræb ɪd, kræbd /

adjective

1. grouchy; ill-natured; irritable; churlish.

   Synonyms:

   cantankerous, peevish, cross

2. perverse; contrary; obstinate.

3. hard to understand; intricate and obscure.

4. difficult to read or decipher, as handwriting.

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crabbed British  

/ ˈkræbɪd /

adjective

1. surly; irritable; perverse

2. (esp of handwriting) cramped and hard to decipher

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Other Word Forms

• crabbedly
  adverb
• crabbedness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of crabbed

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at crab ³, -ed ³

Explanation

If your friend fell out of bed, spilled hot tea on his socks, and tripped in the snow, you might expect him to be crabbed. Crabbed describes someone who is grumpy, or irritable, or has a generally crotchety attitude. The word crabbed originally meant “resembling a crab” and also takes part of its meaning from the sour-tasting crab apple. You can think of crabbed as describing what someone would be like if they were made into a crab. The word is used less often than its synonym crabby, but the meaning of crabbed is just as easy to understand: if you were covered in sand all day, you’d probably feel crabbed too!

Example Sentences

She also shaved her head — all to add authenticity as her queen evolved from youth to crabbed old age.

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2023

Such a crabbed view goes against how art is often created — spontaneously, with improvisation and serendipity.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2023

This is a truly crabbed and reductive view of the man and his work.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2021

Conversely, the cynical prognosticators who used to seem crabbed and paranoid just keep getting proven right.

From Slate • Sep. 21, 2020

I recognized Dad’s crabbed scrawl on a small brown cardboard box.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam