crisp 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkrisp How to pronounce crisp (audio)
Definition of crispnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tidy
being clean and in good order a pretty, crisp bedspread for the guest room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crisp

2 of 2

verb

as in to ripple

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
  1. brittle
  2. tidy
  3. concise
  4. ripple
  5. short
  6. neat
  7. brief
  8. ruffle
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
Definition of brittle
Adjective
  • This aversion to water can also be justified by their love of a tidy coat, which water can easily dishevel.
    — Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Some residences under $5 million embody a level of splendor that defies tidy definitions.
    — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of tidy
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
Definition of concise
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
Definition of ripple
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
  • Artificial: Artificial ground (AG) cleats have the shortest cleats of the bunch.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Over the next two hours, jeweler and collector pored over nearly 40 pieces, separating them into neat piles.
    — Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • They can be enjoyed sipped neat or poured over ice.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of neat
Adjective
  • During a brief news conference, Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said officials could not take questions, citing the ongoing investigation and pending litigation.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The show had a brief run Off Broadway in 1996, then lived on with a miniature national tour and a beloved cast recording.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of brief
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
Definition of ruffle

Browse Nearby Words

crisis
crisp
crisped
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisp. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on crisp

Nglish: Translation of crisp for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All