Synonyms of crisp

crisp 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkrisp 

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

• brittle
• crisped
• crispy
• short
• flaky
• crumbly
• friable
• fragile
• embrittled
• crunchy
• delicate
• brickle
• crusty
• crackly
• crispened
• breakable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexible
• elastic
• resilient
• strong
• pliable
• sturdy
• tough
• pliant

2

as in tidy

being clean and in good order

a pretty, crisp bedspread for the guest room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tidy
• neat
• trim
• tidied
• uncluttered
• orderly
• picked up
• shipshape
• smug
• kempt
• groomed
• immaculate
• prim
• antiseptic
• snug
• sleek
• well-groomed
• organized
• trig
• spiffy
• spotless
• dapper
• taut
• saucy
• streamlined
• spruce
• bandbox
• natty
• spick-and-span
• systematic
• smart
• rakish
• straight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• messy
• disordered
• untidy
• disorderly
• disheveled
• sloppy
• unkempt
• slovenly
• dirty
• shabby
• scruffy
• filthy
• seedy
• foul
• slipshod
• nasty
• sordid
• squalid
• mussed
• mussy
• rumpled
• sloven
• dowdy
• tumbled
• disorganized
• unsystematic
• tousled
• frowsy

3

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

• concise
• brief
• summary
• succinct
• pithy
• short
• terse
• laconic
• blunt
• compact
• curt
• epigrammatic
• telegraphic
• aphoristic
• monosyllabic
• compendious
• sententious
• thumbnail
• condensed
• elliptical
• abrupt
• capsule
• apothegmatic
• brusque
• meaningful
• shortened
• abbreviated
• meaty
• substantial
• abridged
• curtailed
• snippy
• snippety
• well-turned
• significant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• windy
• wordy
• diffuse
• verbose
• redundant
• prolix
• circuitous
• repetitious
• rambling
• enlarged
• tautological
• long-winded
• exaggerated
• expanded
• circumlocutory
• inflated
• supplemented
• embroidered
• tautologous
• pleonastic
• embellished

crisp

2 of 2

verb

as in to ripple

Related Words

• ripple
• ruffle
• crease
• fold
• pucker
• crimp
• knit
• corrugate
• pleat
• crumple
• wrinkle
• ruck
• crinkle
• furrow
• contract
• scrunch
• rumple
• muss (up)
• mess (up)

Dissimilar Words

• smooth
• flatten
• iron out
• straighten
• press
• even
• iron
• uncrumple
• unfold
• smoothen
• tidy
• neaten

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

Recent Examples of crisp

Adjective

According to fabric care expert Alicia Sokolowski, ironing is ideal for creating crisp creases, flattening heavy wrinkles, and shaping structured garments like dress shirts, cotton, linen, or denim. —Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026

And for dessert, there’s a cast-iron apple crisp big enough for two, with buttermilk ice cream and brown-sugar caramel. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026

Verb

You pan cook the fresh mussels, remove the top shell and fill the shell with the meat with a citrusy breadcrumb mixture before placing it under the broiler to crisp up. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Dec. 2025

Just before serving, place all of the chicken back in the oil, and refry quickly to crisp up about 30 seconds to 1 minute. —David Morgan, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025