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; 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

In the spring, Thompson crabbed, and when buyers counted crabs, the brothers said, his father often got shorted.

From Washington Post • Nov. 26, 2022

Limbaugh might have had a choice at one point, a choice to stop being a crabbed, reactionary loudmouth and do something different.

From Slate • Oct. 31, 2020

That said, the board seems to be taking a rather crabbed view of the sanctity of the CalPERS name.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2020

The girls crabbed their way up, using their hands and feet in combination.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen