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
While there is definite fruit on the palate, there is also a crisp acidity that keeps it from being overripe. John Mariani, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Once hot, add eggs, sprinkle with sesame seeds and fry for 3-4 minutes until the edges are crisp and the whites are completely set. Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
Whether it’s served with cabbage, piled high on rye, or crisped up in a skillet, corned beef remains a symbol of Irish-American resilience, celebration, and good eating. Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 This allows the skin to crisp up before being coated in sauce. Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crisp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crisp
Adjective
  • Osteoporosis causes the bones to become incredibly brittle.
    Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • If polyethylene and polypropylene aren’t completely separated during recycling, the resulting mix can be brittle and generally unusable for creating new products.
    Alex Jordan, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • What’s something about the culture or food that still resists translation — something that doesn’t quite fit into a tidy tour explanation?
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Initially, the job seems straightforward — embalming bodies, completing paperwork, and keeping things tidy.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Refine your key points to be clear and concise—no rambling monologues.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • As the celebration on the floor dispersed to make way for the second national semifinal, Clayton could be seen greeting every teammate and staffer who offered a handshakes or a hug with a concise message.
    Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The impact of these cuts will be felt far beyond Washington, rippling out to thousands of state and local agencies serving children nationwide.
    Eli Hager, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Here's how tariffs are rippling through the creator economy.
    Katie Salcius, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • After a short ceremony, the church will open to the public from: Wednesday: 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday: 7 a.m. to midnight Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    George Petras, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Despite scoring only five points at Penn State on March 1, Rice’s short baseline jumper with 17 seconds left cemented a 68-64 victory.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Pichai, 52, addressed the court from the witness box wearing a neat, dark suit during the second week of the remedies trial that will determine which penalties U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta will levy against the nearly $2 trillion company.
    Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Hanoi’s Metropole Hotel sits imposingly on a corner in the city center, bright white with neat black shutters.
    Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • At various times in its long history, the region has either been coveted, conquered or controlled by the Greeks, the Roman Byzantines, the Genoese, the Mongols, Ottomans, Russians, Ukrainians, and even by the Germans for a brief period during World War II.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Inflation gauge cools ahead of Trump's tariffs, but spending climbs A key measure of inflation eased in March, offering a brief reprieve before President Donald Trump's new tariffs begin taking full effect.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Chelsea and the notion of trust, ruffled Riza and Nuno’s succinct programme notes Michael Cox concentrates on tactical analysis.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • But now Shelby's back, which ruffles the friend group, including the studious Beth Powell (Strazza), the WASP-y Ivy Watkins (Maggie Kuntz), and new student and Atlanta transplant Nell Shaw (Morgan Scott).
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisp. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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