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

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

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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

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crisp

2 of 2

verb

as in to ripple

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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
Take a walk in the crisp autumn air or meditate under a blooming cherry tree in spring. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 Pretty in pastel, crisp shirts from Hommegirls and Toteme offer subtle color punches for the ultra-minimalist. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
The air fryer takes the humble food of the plains and Rust Belt—wings, fries, onion rings, nuggets, yesterday's pizza—and crisps it up for you at home. —Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Feb. 2025 Toss it in the air fryer for a few minutes to melt the cheese, roast the tomatoes, and crisp the bread for a mouthwatering, nutritious snack. —Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 6 Feb. 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
  • Aromas of cranberries and mocha; brittle acidity and flavors that include brownies.
    — Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • SpaceX is experimenting with metallic tile designs, including one with active cooling, that might be less brittle than the ceramic tiles used elsewhere on the ship.
    — Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of brittle
Adjective
  • Two goals on his MLS debut against Montreal was a tidy start.
    — Phil Hay, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
  • There were three fights in the first nine seconds, tidy one-on-one bouts.
    — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
Definition of tidy
Adjective
  • Her offbeat style and charming eccentricity informed the concise lineup in which high and low were intentionally merged.
    — WWD, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025
  • In this comprehensive yet concise history of modern polar exploration, Shubin, a professor of evolutionary biology, mixes urgent scientific findings about glaciers and sea-level rise with prescient geopolitical histories of Arctic territorial disputes.
    — The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of concise
Verb
  • Government employees make up a small share of the overall workforce, but the effects of nixed contracts could ripple out to the private sector.
    — Courtenay Brown, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Inflation-weary consumers are already starting to rein in their spending as uncertainty ripples through households.
    — Lucy Bayly, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of ripple
Adjective
  • He was injured almost immediately in the fall of 2018 and didn’t return until February; by that time Cleveland was already in stage 1 of a painful (but, ultimately, short) rebuild.
    — Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The digital operation includes brand sites with editorial content; websites; YouTube channels; SVOD platforms including A&E Crime Central, History Vault and Lifetime Movie Club; short form video creation; editorial newsletters; and dozens of social handles across Instagram, X, Facebook and TikTok.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of short
Adjective
  • The temple itself has some neat features, such as a rock that appears to be levitating, and there's also a training droid so your minifigures can practise their Jedi moves with it.
    — Kimberley Snaith, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Halo: The Master Chief Collection Available on: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC There are few first-person shooters more influential than the Halo games and this compilation, which was first released in 2014, bundles everything together in one neat package.
    — Joshua Lamb, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of neat
Adjective
  • Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Below are brief descriptions of the wines and tasting notes.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of brief
Verb
  • This easy-to-wear Ralph Lauren ruffled one-piece, $135 at Everything But Water, comes in a beautiful pam green shade.
    — Nora Colomer, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Outside influencers gaining access to opportunities that had once been reserved for in-house employees could potentially ruffle some feathers.
    — Kaleigh Moore, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of ruffle

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Cite this Entry

“Crisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisp. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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