Crabbed: meaning, definitions and examples

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crabbed

 

[ หˆkrรฆbษชd ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

mood, behavior

The term 'crabbed' describes a person who is irritable, ill-tempered, or difficult to deal with. It may also refer to a situation that is marked by a lack of generosity or a narrow-minded approach. People characterized as crabbed often exhibit a pessimistic or sour attitude. This word can also imply a tendency to be petty or overly critical in interactions.

Synonyms

cantankerous, cross, irritable, petty, sour

Examples of usage

  • She always has a crabbed expression when things don't go her way.
  • His crabbed nature made it difficult for him to make friends.
  • The meeting was filled with crabbed remarks that stifled creativity.
Context #2 | Verb

writing, style

To 'crab' can also mean to complain or express dissatisfaction, often in a minor or petty way. When discussing writing, it may refer to a style that is difficult to read or convoluted. This usage is less common but reflects a tendency to focus on minor details rather than the broader picture.

Synonyms

complain, fret, grumble, moan, whine

Examples of usage

  • He tended to crab about small mistakes in the report.
  • The editor described the manuscript as crabbed and hard to follow.

Translations

Translations of the word "crabbed" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น ranzinza

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เฅเคฐเฅˆเคฌเฅเคก

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช grimmig

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ murung

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะตะดะพะฑั€ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ zrzฤ™dliwy

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ไธๆฉŸๅซŒใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท grincheux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ gruรฑรณn

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท huysuz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์‹ฌ์ˆ ๊ถ‚์€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุงุจุณ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mrzutรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ mrzutรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่„พๆฐ”ๅ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ mrลกฤen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ mรบldur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะฐั‚ะฐะป

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ™แƒ”แƒžแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qษ™zษ™bli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ gruรฑรณn

Etymology

The word 'crabbed' has its origins in the early 15th century, derived from the Middle English 'crabbe' which means 'grumpy or irritable'. It is believed to be related to the Old Norse 'krabbi' (meaning crab), which is often associated with a snapping or aggressive manner, akin to the behavior of the crustacean itself. The association with 'irritability' stems from the notion that crabs have a propensity to pinch and defend themselves, metaphorically linking their behavior with the temperament of certain individuals. Over centuries, 'crabbed' transitioned from its focus purely on the crustacean to encapsulating a broader spectrum of human behaviors, especially those reflecting negativity or narrow-mindedness.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,308 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.