Synonym Chooser

How is the word crusty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of crusty are bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, and gruff. While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

Where would bluff be a reasonable alternative to crusty?

The synonyms bluff and crusty are sometimes interchangeable, but bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

When can blunt be used instead of crusty?

While the synonyms blunt and crusty are close in meaning, blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

When might brusque be a better fit than crusty?

The words brusque and crusty can be used in similar contexts, but brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

When could curt be used to replace crusty?

While in some cases nearly identical to crusty, curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

When is gruff a more appropriate choice than crusty?

Although the words gruff and crusty have much in common, gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

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 crusty Place the faucet or faucets into a large resealable plastic bag standing upright, with the crusty side down. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 21 Sep. 2025 Anderson doesn’t portray Bob, an alias that the character assumes after going into hiding, as a crusty leftover from an earlier era. David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025 The patisserie, founded by Matti Knio, is known for its beautiful French pastries such as cakes and tarts, a variety of croissants and crusty baguettes. Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Much like the crusty main character, Igor, the film’s director said his favorite way to enjoy truffles is fairly straightforward. Leslie Kelly, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crusty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crusty
Adjective
  • Dave Roberts was blunt about Shohei Ohtani’s 1-for-18 National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Though the doors did not yield, Shapiro has not been able to escape the image – or the thought of the blunt sledgehammer Balmer had intended to strike him with.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Both are ruggedly handsome, gruff and not short on ego.
    Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In September 2024, Jane’s Addiction came to an abrupt and explosive end during a Boston concert when Farrell punched guitarist Dave Navarro onstage, an incident that resulted in the reunion tour’s immediate cancellation, the band breaking up, and now a pair of lawsuits.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Ross said she was unexpectedly forced to make the jump into indie producing with House in 2016 after her tenure as chief executive at the National Theatre in London came to an abrupt end.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • With one out in the second, Caleb Durbin sent a drive into left field that Kiké Hernandez turned into a triple when his diving attempt came up short.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Facing fourth-and-short at midfield, the Vikings tried another quick toss to O’Brien.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Tariq Bokhari was known for his outspoken approach that landed the city in hot water earlier this year.
    Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Across the tech industry, workers have become more outspoken in their criticism of business dealings with the Israeli military.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As her symptoms rapidly worsened, a rather brusque doctor was called to our house.
    Patti Newton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • In his breakthrough role, Redford played the brusque and dangerous Sundance opposite Paul Newman's personable Butch in the box-office smash, the iconic buddy Western about two outlaws on the run after a series of train robberies.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Less than a day later, a curt follow-up email landed in many of their inboxes informing them that they weren’t being let go after all.
    Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Asked to assess his own performance afterward, Howard was curt.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crusty. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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