crabby

[krab-ee]

See more synonyms for crabby on Thesaurus.com

adjective, crab·bi·er, crab·bi·est.

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

Origin of crabby

First recorded in 1540–50; crab³ + -y¹

Related formscrab·bi·ly, adverbcrab·bi·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for crabby

Contemporary Examples

For us, this is Louis C.K. and his crabby, melancholic, and profanely funny half-hour comedy.
Why Is Louis C.K. So Funny? He Uses Humor as a Moral Compass.
Andrew Romano
May 2, 2014
Never underestimate the power of “crabby snacks and homemades.”
Oscar Nominations Shockers: Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathryn Bigelow & More
Marlow Stern
January 10, 2013
Crabby American billionaires want their money back, writes John Avlon.
The Independent Rundown, November 11
Matthew DeLuca
November 12, 2012

Historical Examples

When the latter arrived he seemed in a crabby frame of mind.
Jokes For All Occasions
Anonymous
Let us go downstairs after old Crabby is to bed and play some trick on him.
The Putnam Hall Rivals
Arthur M. Winfield
Crabby—old Crabby Tompkins, a trapper, is buried in the sand on the Frazer.
The Hunted Woman
James Oliver Curwood
You know, you crabby dear, you wouldn't neglect an old dog or an old pony after it had served you.
A Dream of the North Sea
James Runciman
There comes a time when a woman has to make up her mind to choose between being called a 'dear old soul' or a 'crabby old thing.'
Her Royal Highness Woman
Max O'Rell

British Dictionary definitions for crabby

crabby

adjective -bier or -biest

bad-tempered

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for crabby

adj.

1520s, in now-obsolete sense "crooked, gnarled, rough," from extended sense of crab (n.1) + -y (2). Meaning "disagreeable, sour, peevish" is attested from 1776, American English. Both senses were found earlier in crabbed.

crabby

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}crabby

Examples from the Web for crabby

Contemporary Examples

For us, this is Louis C.K. and his crabby, melancholic, and profanely funny half-hour comedy.

Never underestimate the power of “crabby snacks and homemades.”

Crabby American billionaires want their money back, writes John Avlon.

Historical Examples

When the latter arrived he seemed in a crabby frame of mind.

Let us go downstairs after old Crabby is to bed and play some trick on him.

Crabby—old Crabby Tompkins, a trapper, is buried in the sand on the Frazer.

You know, you crabby dear, you wouldn't neglect an old dog or an old pony after it had served you.

There comes a time when a woman has to make up her mind to choose between being called a 'dear old soul' or a 'crabby old thing.'

crabby

Word Origin and History for crabby

adj.

Origin of crabby