crunchy

adjective

ˈkrən-chē 

crunchier; crunchiest

1

: making a crunching sound when chewed or pressed

crunchy lettuce

crunchy snow

prefers crunchier cookies

2

informal : having or relating to a lifestyle that is typically focused on connecting with and preserving the natural world (as by spending time in nature, by favoring organic and natural foods and environmentally sustainable products, and by living simply and healthfully) and that may also include New Age beliefs, self-reliance (as in growing and/or making products that most people buy ready-made), and a wariness of conventional agricultural, educational, medical, and industrial practices : crunchy-granola

If the group focuses on healthy eating, woe be unto you if you suggest using any kind of processed ingredient … which couldn't possibly suit a particularly crunchy cook's definition of "healthy."

—Amy McCarthy

… is all about getting into nature and supporting crunchy hobbies like camping …

—Tim Levin

Just as Birkenstocks and bee pollen have come back in style, so have crunchy lifestyle concepts, from yoga and meditation to composting and home fermentation.

—Kim Velsey

Crunchy, coined as a pop-culture reference to granola, has come to refer to a wide variety of cultural practices, including avoiding additives and food dyes, declining or spacing out childhood vaccinations beyond what pediatricians recommend, and more extreme actions in pursuit of health, independence, and purity. Back-to-the-land living and alternative medicine are hallmarks …

—Kathleen Belew

… the old phrase "granola girl" … described a type of woman who opted for everything natural. She made her own granola, loved the outdoors, chose a barefoot life, treated illness with herbal remedies and essential oils and eschewed anything unnatural. Now she's grown up and had a baby and she's a crunchy mom.

—Stefanie Preissner

crunchily

ˈkrən-chə-lē 

adverb

crunchiness

ˈkrən-chē-nəs 

noun

Examples of crunchy in a Sentence

These cookies are very crunchy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Once your pair crunchy snap peas with peppery arugula, a sweet and zippy homemade dressing, and garlicky toasted breadcrumbs, there is no turning back. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026

Made with a crunchy corn base and flavored with cheddar cheese powder, garlic powder, and chili pepper, the snacks get their signature red-hot hue from a blend of paprika, vegetable juice, and turmeric. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026

Slaws aren’t just picnic or barbecue fare; crunchy, hearty versions shine in the colder months. —Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026

Or, shave them raw for a crunchy slaw. —Trista Chan, Health, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing crunchy

• crunchy-granola
• crunchy-granola moms
• earthy-crunchy

Kids Definition

crunchy

adjective

ˈkrən-chē 

crunchier; crunchiest

: making a crunching sound (as when bitten or chewed)