1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
a crabby old dog who snapped at passersby
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restless
given to complaining a lot
a bunch of crabby kids who don't want to do any work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crabby
What Kate will not thank him for is being a big crabby baby about her relationship with Dennison.
—
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
There were fish living in the ice and thousands of mating pairs of these giant crustaceans dropping out of crevices on top of us, like giant crabby spiders.
—Jill Heinerth, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
Come the crash of 2008, David’s leisure-world empire collapses, and Abraham’s patriarchal mien and tolerance turn to crabby solitude with the prospect of unloading their dream for pennies on the dollar.
—Gordon Cox, Variety, 2 Aug. 2024
Hailee Steinfeld plays the crabby, impatient, and judgmental high schooler Nadine.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 30 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for crabby
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
There were fish living in the ice and thousands of mating pairs of these giant crustaceans dropping out of crevices on top of us, like giant crabby spiders.
—Jill Heinerth, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
Come the crash of 2008, David’s leisure-world empire collapses, and Abraham’s patriarchal mien and tolerance turn to crabby solitude with the prospect of unloading their dream for pennies on the dollar.
—Gordon Cox, Variety, 2 Aug. 2024
Hailee Steinfeld plays the crabby, impatient, and judgmental high schooler Nadine.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 30 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for crabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crabby
Adjective
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Though most people benefit from eating more fiber, some may need to temporarily reduce their fiber intake to help their digestive system heal, such as during a flare-up of irritable bowel disease (IBD), diverticulitis, or Crohn’s disease.4 3.—
Melissa Nieves,
Verywell Health,
7 Mar. 2025
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Scheer was smart to whittle down the novel’s winding sentences into short, sharp exclamations and curt instructions — and also to be faithful to Melville’s rendition of the captain’s irritable diction.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But not on this recent Wednesday — because the herd is restless.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
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After a restless night while a thunderstorm raged outside, Tess and Anna wake up not as themselves, but as two 14-year-old girls, Harper and Lily.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The energy of the performances — from Aduba’s deadpan forthrightness to the more antic work by comedians like Marino and Jane Curtin (as the president’s grouchy mother-in-law) — and the rat-a-tat style of all the conversations carries the day.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2025
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The episode ends with Matty about to meet up with the firm’s perpetually grouchy dog lover and Barry Manilow fan in the park, revealing her secret to someone at the firm at last.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Based on grumpy Google reviews, an online warning would have been appreciated.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Mar. 2025
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Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
29 Feb. 2024
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Instead, Gerwig and Baumbach promote querulous sloganeering.—
Armond White,
National Review,
19 July 2023
Adjective
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Trump won't be on the ballot again, but this week had to make a lot of Republicans who will be very nervous.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
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Mitch [Hurwitz, the show creator] was very nervous.—
Aaron Couch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Schmidt’s Spring Debut Clarke Schmidt, who saw his schedule delayed by a cranky back, made his spring debut against the Orioles on Tuesday.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2025
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Tired and cranky, the former New Jersey Governor lumbered onto a bus ferrying passengers back to the terminal, where the woman seated beside him started unpacking the unpredictable state of politics, particularly President Donald Trump’s chaotic first few weeks back in power.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crabby. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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