criminal and crook share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. criminal means “bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure”. crook means “someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime”. criminal is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkɹɪmənəl/
1.adj.bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
“a criminal waste of talent”
2.adj.guilty of crime or serious offense
“criminal in the sight of God and man”
3.adj.involving or being or having the nature of a crime
“a criminal offense”
/ˈkɹʊk/
1.n.someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
2.n.a circular segment of a curve
“a bend in the road”
3.n.a long staff with one end being hook shaped
| criminal | crook | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪmənəl/ | /ˈkɹʊk/ |
| Said | KRIM-uh-nuhl | kruuk |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Letters | 8 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | adjective, noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 4 | 4 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | condemnable, deplorable, reprehensible | criminal, felon, outlaw |
Full entry for criminal · Full entry for crook · More comparisons