crabby

[krab-ee]

adjective

crabbier, crabbiest 

1. Informal.,  grouchy; ill-natured; irritable; peevish.

crabby

/ ˈkræbɪ /

adjective

1. bad-tempered

Other Word Forms

• crabbily adverb
• crabbiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crabby¹

First recorded in 1540–50; crab ³ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

By now Lord Fredrick was crabby and tired, and he had nearly given up on ever finding someone suitable.

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He added passengers jokingly pointed out the "shellfish" crab had its feet on the seat, while others called out the crabby commuter for fare dodging.

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Her dissatisfaction with her crabby old husband drives her into the same state of amorous turmoil that Vanya and Sonya find themselves in.

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John Ashton, the veteran actor who was best known for portraying crabby Detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise, has died.

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“He seemed a little crabby when I was a kid,” Arnold remembered of his grandfather.

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