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

2 of 2

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crisp
Adjective
Even if the pan is completely nonstick, some deep pan pizzas can benefit from having a drizzle of olive oil at the bottom of the pan to help the crust crisp up. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025 Nuts and seeds are air-fryer-friendly and can be crisped up in minutes. Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Fry, turning occasionally, until crisp and browned, 3–4 minutes per batch. Romy Gill, Saveur, 22 Oct. 2025 Serve with a crisp apple-fennel slaw on the side. Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crisp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crisp
Adjective
  • Grass blades are more fragile and brittle in the cold.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The brittle cornerstone of a decades-old player-development system suddenly crumbled, bringing the rest of the city game down with it.
    Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Inside, there’s a mesh divider pocket to keep things tidy and the zippered closure keeps everything secure.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Sabrina Carpenter is a tidy 5′ tall.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The initiative focuses on publishing concise, high-quality species descriptions to shorten the gap between discovery and formal recognition drastically.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The other cuts in as needed — concise, disarming, right on cue.
    Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In their 2021 work, the Google researchers were able to observe in detail how information spread across Sycamore’s grid of qubits, rippling outward from an initial state.
    Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Paying off just the interest on this debt threatens to ripple through the economy.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Her nails were short and polished black, and her makeup was also done with smoky black eyeliner.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Whether the on-site power is a short or long-term solution for hyperscalers, Liberty has an answer.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • However, experts told McClatchy News that politically motivated attacks often defy neat categorization.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The neat man called Abdi gave me one precise nod.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Weigert, 56, left Tracker after season 1, and like Sunday’s episode, her absence was also explained within the show during a brief conversation in season 2.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The politically motivated preemption of the late-night program following host Jimmy Kimmel's brief remarks regarding the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk drove a massive wave of Disney+ subscription cancellations, a new report from the research firm Antenna shows, per The New York Times.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Wolfpack have a chance to ruffle some feathers and pick up a big upset win this week at Notre Dame.
    Grace Raynor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Or perhaps a sweater dress is more your speed; both Éterne’s turtleneck number and Dôen’s ruffled take pair perfectly with knee-high boots and a wool coat for everyday outings.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisp. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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