🍶 Easily broken 🚗 In bad condition

crocky

9.6

Old and in bad condition, it often stops working

adjective
/ˈkrɑːki/

: en mal estado

We had to cancel the trip because our crocky van wouldn't start.

Examples

The crocky lawnmower sputtered and stopped halfway through the yard.
The crocky washing machine leaks water and makes a loud noise when it runs.
He tried to fix the crocky radio, but it still made strange noises.
That old car is really crocky.
This crocky computer barely runs anymore.
After years of use, the crocky microwave takes forever to heat food.
I can't rely on that crocky bicycle since the brakes hardly work anymore.

Synonyms

crummy

vscrocky

Informal

56 6.7

Low quality and unpleasant

points to physical decay and unreliability rather than general unpleasantness

broken-down

vscrocky

24 4.4

In very poor condition and not working because of age or neglect

is old and unreliable but may still work sometimes

worn-out

vscrocky

20 3.1

An object too old or damaged from heavy use to be useful

describes old unreliable items that may still sometimes work

decrepit

vscrocky

9 6.6

A building or vehicle that is very old and in poor condition from lack of care

is worn and unreliable but not always ruined by age

junky

vscrocky

Informal

9 4.8

Poor quality and likely to break quickly

highlights oldness and failure risk rather than cheap manufacture

cruddy

vscrocky

Informal

4 6.0

Dirty and not good quality

emphasizes being old and likely to fail, not just dirty

dicky

vscrocky

9.3

A part that does not work properly or is weak, often for body parts and machines

is unreliable due to age or bad condition rather than brief faults

Antonyms

reliable

358 2.7

Able to be trusted to do what is expected

functional

81 3.2

Working correctly so it can be used

How Worn

derelict

14 7.5

crocky

9.6

rickety

18 5.9

shabby

33 2.5

worn

4 2.1

used

1.0

serviceable

11 4.4

Surface Forms

crocky positive

Morphology

crocky = crock (semi-transparent) = crock + y

Derived from 'crock' in its extended sense 'old/worn-out thing'; the figurative extension to 'in poor condition' is clear but requires the extended meaning of 'crock'.

Etymology

Crocky also comes from crock, which was used for an 'old, useless pot' and then for any worn-out thing. So crocky can mean old or unreliable, like a machine or car that is likely to fail.