crisp 1 of 2

1
as in brittle
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure the bag of crisp cookies had a lot of crumbs on the bottom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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crisp

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective crisp contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of crisp are brittle, fragile, frangible, and friable. While all these words mean "breaking easily," crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

When can brittle be used instead of crisp?

Although the words brittle and crisp have much in common, brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

When is fragile a more appropriate choice than crisp?

In some situations, the words fragile and crisp are roughly equivalent. However, fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

When would frangible be a good substitute for crisp?

The words frangible and crisp are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

When could friable be used to replace crisp?

The meanings of friable and crisp largely overlap; however, friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Examples of crisp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
My first visit was on a perfect September afternoon (crisp enough for sweatshirts but sunny enough to feel some warmth on my face). Grace McCarty, SELF, 9 Oct. 2024 There’s nothing quite like the look of crisp white cotton sheets. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
There's nothing that crisps up a dish (or drink) faster than fresh, raw celery. Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2024 The meat can be strong-tasting and a bit rubbery, but is beloved when crisped on the plancha. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for crisp 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crisp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near crisp

Cite this Entry

“Crisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisp. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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