Crabbed - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Definition:
Bad-tempered or irritable; also, hard to read due to cramped handwriting.
Synonyms:
irritable, grumpy, cantankerous, peevish
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
cheerful, good-natured
Common Collocations:
crabbed handwriting, crabbed mood, crabbed expression
Derivatives:
crabbedly, crabbedness
Usage Tips:
Use "crabbed" to describe someone's mood or handwriting that is difficult to decipher or unpleasant.
Common Phrases:
crabbed old man, crabbed style, crabbed reply
Etymology:
From Middle English "crabbe," meaning ill-tempered, influenced by the crab's sideways movement and pinching claws.
Examples:
- 1. The teacher's crabbed handwriting was hard to read.
- 2. His crabbed reply made everyone avoid him that morning.
- 3. She gave a crabbed look when interrupted during work.
- 4. The old man’s crabbed demeanor scared the children away.