CRAB Synonyms: 198 Similar and Opposite Words

crab 1 of 2

noun

Definition of crab

as in bear

an irritable and complaining person you're always such a crab in the morning!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crab

2 of 2

verb

as in to complain

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely their two-year-old whined and crabbed for the whole car trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to damage

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of crabbed the blossoming romance by becoming moody and demanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of crab

Noun

More specifically, insects are invertebrates (animals without backbones) and are part of the arthropod phylum, which also includes spiders, crabs, and centipedes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 He's garnered more than 3 million followers from his content promoting the crab industry. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

On a breezy pier overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, a growing group of women are discovering that the rewards of crabbing extend far beyond what ends up in a bucket. — Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 22 June 2026 As the crabbing season gains momentum, Maryland watermen are grappling with a surge in operational expenses, led by high fuel prices that are forcing them to pass rising costs on to consumers. — Tessa Bentulan, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crab

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crab

Noun

The bear scratched his arm, and the victim tripped and injured his foot while trying to escape, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Then, one baby bear made its way here, and the other about a half a mile in the other direction.

— Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of bear

Verb

Kayley starts service with a positive attitude, hoping to give the guests no reason to complain.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
That Sean Payton won by 20 on the road and still spent a good chunk of his postgame presser either complaining, yammering about Jack Lemmon, or both, is a heck of a good sign.

— Troy Renck, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of complain

Noun

My ‘Deborah Vance Show senior writer’ persona was kind of a rude complainer with an incipient alcohol problem.

— Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Are they deluded into thinking that the complainers are just a squeaky wheel minority and the majority of fans are happy with it?

— Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of complainer

Verb

She was awakened in the middle of the night by her barking dog and the sound of a woman screaming in the street.

— City News Service, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Audio from her cousin's phone call to the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service captured 15-year-old Layan describing the chaotic scene around her, amid the sound of gunfire and screaming, before the call dropped.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of scream

Verb

While no civilians were injured, one firefighter was taken away for treatment of smoke inhalation and is in stable condition.

— Nathalie Marie Palacios, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
In Russian attacks elsewhere, local officials said that one person was killed and 15 people injured in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of injure

Noun

That felt the opposite here,as Chandler and Pierre actually have great chemistry together — with Pierre delivering most of the thoughtful answers and Chandler playing the role of the lovable crank.

— Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
No, this new flat-plane-crank V-8 is not the ultimate in silent running, sounding a little vocal at higher revs.

— Howard Walker, Robb Report, 29 July 2026

Definition of crank

Browse Nearby Words

cozy

crab

crabbed

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crab. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of crab

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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