What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
kinked
Example
The hose got kinked and stopped the water flow. [kinked: past tense]
Example
She tried to straighten out the kinked wire. [kinked: adjective]
crooked
Example
The old tree had a crooked trunk. [crooked: adjective]
Example
He walked with a crooked cane. [crooked: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Crooked is more commonly used than kinked in everyday language. Crooked is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while kinked is less common and is typically used for flexible objects like hoses or wires.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between kinked and crooked?
Both kinked and crooked are informal words and are suitable for casual conversations. However, crooked can also be used in formal writing to describe something that is not straight or aligned properly.
