CRISP Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

crisp 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkrisp

Definition of crisp

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

as in tidy

being clean and in good order a pretty, crisp bedspread for the guest room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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

The best wine for tailgating is often a crisp, dry rosé because of its versatility, refreshing acidity and ability to pair with a wide range of football season’s favorite finger foods. — Katie Kelly Bell, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Jump to recipe Cool, crisp shrimp remoulade is the perfect light, yet indulgent main dish to serve this summer. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Increase oven temperature to 425°F to crisp the casings. — Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 June 2026 Peel and cube potatoes into bite-sized pieces and soak potatoes in cold water 1 hour to crisp. — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crisp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crisp

Adjective

Ash trees are prone to emerald ash borers that weaken the wood and risk damage from brittle limbs that eventually fall.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Extending the plant’s life through 2045 means 15 more years of nuclear waste and seismic risk as the 1980s-era plant gets older and more brittle.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of brittle

Adjective

Both, along with the rest of Iraola’s staff, wasted no time trying to implement the Spaniard’s vision, helped by the clear and concise messaging Murillo praises the head coach for.

— Andy Jones, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Conversations about tough topics don’t have to be concise, comfortable, or perfectly balanced to be healthy.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of concise

Verb

Something extraordinary these episodes illustrate, in our view, is the vulnerability of America’s highly interconnected fresh-food supply chain, in which one grower or supplier problem can ripple astonishingly fast.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
That remains enough concentration for export restrictions to ripple through automotive, energy and defense industries.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripple

Adjective

This will help keep the plant looking tidy and neat, since new flowers will emerge from the nearest node or set of leaves rather than from the top of the stem.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026
Tear the loaf into generous, craggy chunks rather than neat little cubes, and err on the side of bigger pieces.

— Lillian Syme, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of neat

Adjective

Deputies and police officers already at the courthouse pursued Guerrero during a brief foot chase and captured him, officials said.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Men’s domestic cricket in Pakistan, aside from a brief spell from 2019 to 2023 while former Test captain Imran Khan was the country’s prime minister and instigated change, is divided between teams from regions and departments.

— Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of brief

Verb

The Shards will be yet another chance to collapse the line between real life and life onscreen, not to mention an opportunity to ruffle some feathers of the rigid cultural establishment in the process.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026
Similar to Musk’s past real estate projects in Texas, including towering metal gates around his West Lake Hills compound, the mogul’s latest venture has ruffled the feathers of some locals.

— India Roby, Architectural Digest, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruffle

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“Crisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crisp. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of crisp

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