Crabbed
adjective
Difficult to read because of bad handwriting or old print style.
My grandmother wrote a crabbed note to me in her shaky handwriting.
adjective
Bad-tempered or grumpy.
The man was crabbed after being stuck in traffic for hours.
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
To be twisted, contorted or deformed.
The old tree had a crabbed appearance due to years of growing in harsh conditions.
adjective
Difficult to read because of bad handwriting or old print style.
My grandmother wrote a crabbed note to me in her shaky handwriting.
adjective
Bad-tempered or grumpy.
The man was crabbed after being stuck in traffic for hours.
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
To be twisted, contorted or deformed.
The old tree had a crabbed appearance due to years of growing in harsh conditions.
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Historical Context
Used to describe old documents or handwriting that's hard to decipher due to age or style.
The ancient manuscript was written in crabbed script, barely legible to modern readers.
Pro Tip 2/2Reading Challenge
Encounter crabbed writing? Slow down and focus to understand the message.
Her crabbed diary entries from childhood took patience to read and understand.
Pro Tip 1/2Historical Context
Used to describe old documents or handwriting that's hard to decipher due to age or style.
The ancient manuscript was written in crabbed script, barely legible to modern readers.
Pro Tip 2/2Reading Challenge
Encounter crabbed writing? Slow down and focus to understand the message.
Her crabbed diary entries from childhood took patience to read and understand.
Pro Tip 1/2Historical Context
Used to describe old documents or handwriting that's hard to decipher due to age or style.
The ancient manuscript was written in crabbed script, barely legible to modern readers.
Pro Tip 2/2Reading Challenge
Encounter crabbed writing? Slow down and focus to understand the message.
Her crabbed diary entries from childhood took patience to read and understand.
Never forget "Crabbed"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Quote examples
Sue Hubbell
American Author
We live in a world in which there are many live things other than human beings, and many of these things can seem beautiful and amusing and interesting to us if they can catch our attention and if we can step back from our crabbed and limiting and lonely anthropocentricity to consider them.
Quote examples
Frederick Pollock
English Judge
Crabbed and obscure definitions are of no use beyond a narrow circle of students, of whom probably every one has a pet one of his own.
Quote examples
Sue Hubbell
American Author
We live in a world in which there are many live things other than human beings, and many of these things can seem beautiful and amusing and interesting to us if they can catch our attention and if we can step back from our crabbed and limiting and lonely anthropocentricity to consider them.
Quote examples
Frederick Pollock
English Judge
Crabbed and obscure definitions are of no use beyond a narrow circle of students, of whom probably every one has a pet one of his own.
Example 1 of 2
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension