crookedness

IPA/ˈkrʊk.ɪd.nəs/
KK[krˈʊkədnəs]IPA/ˈkrʊk.ɪd.nəs/

crookedness — noun

1. behaviour that is not honest or fair, especially when someone in a position of p

1.名詞B2
釋義

behaviour that is not honest or fair, especially when someone in a position of power lies, cheats, or breaks the law for personal gain.

例句

Years of crookedness in his administration forced the mayor out of office.

crookedness in + [institution/administration]: cause + consequence pattern

Asher left the company rather than join the crookedness of the senior managers.

同義詞
  • dishonesty

    the most direct synonym; slightly broader and more common in everyday speech

  • corruption

    specifically dishonest or illegal behaviour by people in positions of power

  • fraud

    focuses on criminal deception for money or gain; more specific than crookedness

反義詞
  • honesty

    the quality of being truthful and fair

  • integrity

    strong moral principles; a more formal and positive opposite

文法句型

the + noun + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used with a following 'of'-phrase that names the person, group, or institution involved (e.g. 'the crookedness of the officials').

常見錯誤

❌He is a man of crookedness.
✅He is a crooked man.
💡English prefers the adjective 'crooked' to describe a person's character directly; the noun 'crookedness' is used for the abstract quality (e.g. 'the crookedness of the deal'), not to label a person.

2. the state of being bent, twisted, or uneven rather than straight — used of physi

2.名詞B2
釋義

the state of being bent, twisted, or uneven rather than straight — used of physical objects such as roads, lines, edges, or structures.

例句

The crookedness of the old fence gave the garden a charming, unplanned look.

the + noun + of + [physical object]: describing appearance

Benjamin tried to fix the crookedness of the painting with a level and a hammer.

同義詞
  • bentness

    less common but direct; emphasises that something is curved or angled

  • curvature

    more neutral and technical; describes a smooth curve rather than an irregular twist

  • twistedness

    emphasises an irregular, spiralling shape rather than a simple bend

反義詞
  • straightness

    the direct opposite; being free of bends or curves

  • evenness

    a flat, level surface without bumps or dips

文法句型

the + noun + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense refers only to physical shape, not to behaviour. To describe a dishonest person, use sense 1 instead.

常見錯誤

❌I do not like the crookedness of this road.
✅This road is too crooked for me.
💡with physical objects, it is usually more natural to use the adjective 'crooked' directly; the noun form 'crookedness' sounds overly formal or technical in everyday speech about physical shape.