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

Example Sentences

This is a crabbed and mendacious interpretation of the law.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2024

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

Right from the founding, then, analogical reasoning was bold and aspirational as frequently as it was crabbed and limiting.

From Slate • Feb. 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

The missing toes on his left foot had left him with a crabbed, awkward gait, comical to look upon.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin