Crooked vs. Crook — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 6, 2024
Crooked refers to something bent or not straight, symbolizing dishonesty in context, while crook can be a criminal or a bend in an object.
Difference Between Crooked and Crook
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Crooked often describes physical objects or paths that are not straight, indicating deviations or irregularities. For example, a crooked river winds through the landscape, full of twists and turns. On the other hand, a crook can refer to a person who engages in criminal activities, suggesting a deviation from legal or moral standards.
While crooked is also used metaphorically to denote dishonesty or corruption, as in a crooked politician, a crook, in its literal sense, might be an item with a curved or hooked shape, such as a shepherd's staff. This difference in usage highlights the contextual adaptability of both terms.
In the realm of criminal jargon, "crooked" acts as an adjective describing actions or individuals involved in unethical or illegal activities, like in a crooked scheme. Whereas a crook is the noun that identifies the individual committing these acts, emphasizing the role rather than the action.
Crooked lines or structures often require correction or straightening, emphasizing a physical alteration, while identifying someone as a crook might necessitate legal intervention or reform, underscoring a societal response to criminal behavior.
While "crooked" primarily focuses on the physical or metaphorical deviation from straightness or honesty, "crook" can encapsulate both the identity of a criminal and objects with a curved shape, reflecting their distinct yet overlapping spheres of meaning.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Not straight; bent.
A criminal or a bend in something.
Context
Describes objects, paths, or metaphorically, people.
Primarily used to describe criminals or specific objects.
Usage as a part of speech
Adjective.
Noun.
Symbolism
Deviation or dishonesty.
Criminality or a specific shape.
Example in a sentence
"The crooked path led them through the forest."
"The police caught the crook hiding in the alley."
Compare with Definitions
Crooked
Bent or twisted out of shape or position.
The crooked tree stood out among the straight ones.
Crook
Bend or cause to bend;
He crooked his index finger
The road curved sharply
Crooked
Dishonest or fraudulent.
The business deal seemed crooked.
Crook
A person who is dishonest or a criminal.
The town feared the notorious crook.
Crooked
Not in a straight or level position.
The picture on the wall was crooked.
Crook
A bend or curve, especially in a river.
Swans swam gracefully in the river's crook.
Crooked
Full of bends and curves.
We drove down a crooked country road.
Crook
The hooked staff of a shepherd.
The shepherd carried a traditional crook.
Crooked
Distorted or misleading.
The mirror in the funhouse made my reflection look crooked.
Crook
A part of something that is bent or curved.
He hung his coat on the crook of the chair.
Crooked
Having or marked by bends, curves, or angles.
Crook
An implement or tool, such as a bishop's crosier or a shepherd's staff, with a bent or curved part.
Crooked
At an irregular or improper angle; askew
Your necktie is crooked.
Crook
A part that is curved or bent like a hook.
Crooked
(Informal) Dishonest or unscrupulous; fraudulent.
Crook
A curve or bend; a turn
A crook in the path.
Crooked
Simple past tense and past participle of crook
Crook
(Informal) One who makes a living by dishonest methods.
Crooked
Not straight; having one or more bends or angles.
We walked up the crooked path to the top of the hill.
Crook
To make a crook in; bend
Crooked an arm around the package.
Crooked
Set at an angle; not vertical or square.
That picture is crooked - could you straighten it up for me?
Crook
To bend or curve.
Crooked
(figuratively) Dishonest or illegal; corrupt.
He was trying to interest me in another one of his crooked deals.
Crook
Out of order; faulty.
Crooked
Characterized by a crook or curve; not straight; turning; bent; twisted; deformed.
He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere.
Crook
Not well; ill.
Crooked
Not straightforward; deviating from rectitude; distorted from the right.
They are a perverse and crooked generation.
Crook
Of poor quality; inferior.
Crooked
False; dishonest; fraudulent; as, crooked dealings.
Crook
Not honest; crooked.
Crooked
Having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned;
Crooked country roads
Crooked teeth
Crook
A bend; turn; curve; curvature; a flexure.
She held the baby in the crook of her arm.
Crooked
Not straight; dishonest or immoral or evasive
Crook
A bending of the knee; a genuflection.
Crooked
Irregular in shape or outline;
Asymmetrical features
A dress with an crooked hemline
Crook
A bent or curved part; a curving piece or portion (of anything).
The crook of a cane
Crooked
Having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect;
A little oldish misshapen stooping woman
Crook
(obsolete) A lock or curl of hair.
Crook
(obsolete) A support beam consisting of a post with a cross-beam resting upon it; a bracket or truss consisting of a vertical piece, a horizontal piece, and a strut.
Crook
A specialized staff with a semi-circular bend (a "hook") at one end used by shepherds to control their herds.
Crook
A bishop's standard staff of office.
Crook
An artifice; a trick; a contrivance.
Crook
A person who steals, lies, cheats or does other dishonest or illegal things; a criminal.
Crook
A pothook.
Crook
(music) A small tube, usually curved, applied to a trumpet, horn, etc., to change its pitch or key.
Crook
(transitive) To bend, or form into a hook.
He crooked his finger toward me.
Crook
(intransitive) To become bent or hooked.
Crook
To turn from the path of rectitude; to pervert; to misapply; to twist.
Crook
Bad, unsatisfactory, not up to standard.
That work you did on my car is crook, mate.
Not turning up for training was pretty crook.
Crook
Ill, sick.
I′m feeling a bit crook.
Crook
Annoyed, angry; upset.
Be crook at/about; go crook at
Crook
A bend, turn, or curve; curvature; flexure.
Through lanes, and crooks, and darkness.
Crook
Any implement having a bent or crooked end.
He left his crook, he left his flocks.
Crook
A pothook.
Crook
An artifice; trick; tricky device; subterfuge.
For all yuor brags, hooks, and crooks.
Crook
A small tube, usually curved, applied to a trumpet, horn, etc., to change its pitch or key.
Crook
A person given to fraudulent practices; an accomplice of thieves, forgers, etc.
Crook
To turn from a straight line; to bend; to curve.
Crook the pregnant hinges of the knee.
Crook
To turn from the path of rectitude; to pervert; to misapply; to twist.
There is no one thing that crooks youth more than such unlawfull games.
What soever affairs pass such a man's hands, he crooketh them to his own ends.
Crook
To bend; to curve; to wind; to have a curvature.
Their shoes and pattens are snouted, and piked more than a finger long, crooking upwards.
Crook
Someone who has committed (or been legally convicted of) a crime
Crook
A circular segment of a curve;
A bend in the road
A crook in the path
Crook
A long staff with one end being hook shaped
Common Curiosities
Is "crooked" used only to describe physical attributes?
No, it's also used metaphorically to describe dishonest or corrupt practices.
Can "crook" refer to something other than a criminal?
Yes, it can also refer to a bend in something, like a river, or objects like a shepherd's staff.
How does the meaning of "crook" extend beyond its literal sense?
Beyond describing criminals, it can denote the shape of objects or actions, like bending.
Can a road be described as "crooked"?
Yes, if it has many bends and is not straight.
What does "crooked" mean in a literal sense?
It means bent or twisted out of shape or not straight.
Can an object be a "crook" if it's not used by a shepherd?
Yes, any object with a significant bend or curve can be referred to as a crook.
How is a "crook" used in a pastoral setting?
As a shepherd’s staff, symbolizing guidance or control over a flock.
Is "crooked" ever used in a positive context?
Rarely, as it usually connotes something negative like dishonesty or irregularity.
Are all crooks considered dangerous?
Not necessarily; the term can apply to minor offenders or in non-threatening contexts.
Can "crooked" and "crook" be used interchangeably?
Not usually, as "crooked" is an adjective and "crook" is a noun with specific meanings.
What does it mean when someone is called a "crook" in legal terms?
It means they are considered a criminal or have engaged in illegal activities.
Can a river be both "crooked" and have a "crook"?
Yes, if it has many bends and one of those bends is notably curved or distinct.
What type of behavior might a "crooked" person exhibit?
A crooked person might engage in dishonest, fraudulent, or corrupt behavior.
How can someone "crook" their finger?
By bending it, often to signal or gesture something.
What does it indicate if a business is labeled "crooked"?
It suggests the business practices are dishonest or fraudulent.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
