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   crabbed

   /ˈkrabɪd/

   adjective

   • 1. (of handwriting) very small and difficult to decipher: "his handwriting is crabbed and hideous" Similar crampedbadshakyscribbledspiderylabouredillegibleunreadableindecipherableOpposite boldclear
   • ▪ (of style) contorted and difficult to understand: "crabbed legal language"
   • 2. bad-tempered: "a crabbed, unhappy middle age" Similar irritablefractiousfretfulcrosspetulantpettishcrabbycrotchetycantankerouscurmudgeonlydisagreeablemiserablemorosepepperyon edgeedgyimpatientcomplainingquerulousbittermoodyin a bad moodgrumpyhuffyscratchyout of sortsout of temperill-temperedbad-temperedill-naturedill-humouredpeevishsullensurlysulkysourchurlishtouchytestytetchysnappishwaspishpricklycrustybiliousliverishdyspepticspleneticcholericinformal:snappychippygrouchycrankynarkyrattyeggywhingywhingeinglike a bear with a sore headsoreheadsoreheadedpeckishsnakydated:miffyOpposite sweet-naturedeasy-goingcharming

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘perverse, wayward’): from crab1, because of the crab's sideways gait and habit of snapping.

   Derivatives

   • 1. crabbedly adverb
   • 2. crabbedness noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • C

     3

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • B

     3

   • B

     3

   • E

     1

   • D

     2

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