CRISP Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

crisp 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkrisp

Definition of crisp

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

as in tidy

being clean and in good order a pretty, crisp bedspread for the guest room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in concise

marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning a crisp suggestion about what they could do with their boom box

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crisp

2 of 2

verb

as in to ripple

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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

Cucumber serves as the base, adding a crisp and refreshing bite that balances the heat of the jalapeño. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 July 2026 The monitor also uses AI to remove background noise, so your video calls will be crisp and clear. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026

Verb

Peel and cube potatoes into bite-sized pieces and soak potatoes in cold water 1 hour to crisp. — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 Irregular, edges catch oil differently, crisping into jagged, craggly bits while softer interior pockets hold onto dressing, broth, or sauce—the kind of varied texture that makes each bite its own. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crisp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crisp

Adjective

Maybe that's why, in a moment when the country feels eggshell brittle, riding has become such an essential outlet for me—a way to turn my rage into forward motion.

— Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Containment actions should be proportional, reversible where possible and informed by multiple signals rather than a single brittle heuristic.

— Abhik Biswas, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of brittle

Adjective

Trust her to direct you to the right bottle on her concise, personal list, or to pour you a glass of something exciting from a nightly-changing selection.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Donna Kelce, mother of Travis and Jason, gave a concise reaction to the wedding while speaking with Macy's at the company's Fourth of July event in New York.

— Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of concise

Adjective

These are ultra-thin layers composed of large organic molecules that spontaneously organize into a neat single-molecule sheet.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
The neat critical narrative is that MUSIC’s untouchable extremity knocked rage unconscious, both with its glass-shattering production and zeitgeist-engulfing sprawl.

— Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026

Definition of neat

Adjective

The French back line hesitated for a brief second, anticipating a potential foul, but Porro pressed the advantage and side-footed a shot past Mike Maignan in the 58th minute for the backbreaking goal.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Assemblywoman Darshana Patel, a San Diego Democrat, research scientist and local school board member, cogently expressed that hope during the Assembly’s brief floor debate.

— Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 July 2026

Definition of brief

Verb

Mayor Dean Trantalis, Commissioner Steven Glassman and Commissioner John Herbst took issue with her leadership, accusing her of being dismissive to subordinates and ruffling too many feathers.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Roy interjected with the mischievous smirk typical of a younger brother trying to ruffle some feathers.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

Definition of ruffle

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“Crisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisp. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of crisp

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