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Synonyms

crispy

American  
[kris-pee] / ˈkrɪs pi /

adjective

  • crispier,
    comparative
  • crispiest
    superlative
  1. (especially of food) brittle; crisp.

  2. curly or wavy.

  3. brisk.


crispy British  
/ ˈkrɪspɪ /

adjective

  1. crisp

  2. having waves or curls

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Adjectives


Etymology

Origin of crispy

First recorded in 1350–1400, crispy is from the Middle English word crispi. See crisp, -y 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

As Seoul transforms into various shades of yellow with the arrival of autumn, the leaves on Buam-dong's once-prized ginkgo are a crispy brown.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Zucchini gets a delightfully crispy upgrade with this fritte recipe borrowed from an Italian restaurant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

Hordes of international influencers have flown to the U.S. specifically to try the crispy chicken and that renowned dipping sauce.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026

I’ve got to add crispy rice with spicy tuna too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

“It’s nice and crispy like always, Rock,” he says, all smiles.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

I find that popping them in the air fryer produces a crispier exterior than baking them in the oven.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

Fruit breeders across the country have been racing to create crispier, more flavorful apples that will capture consumer loyalty like the Honeycrisp—but are easier to grow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025

The Fujian version uses less batter, while in Guangdong it is crispier and dipped in fish sauce.

From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2024

Although its fries remain a source of controversy, sparking fierce online debate, the chain has stuck to its style, which results in a relatively softer texture than many rivals’ crispier fries.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2023

Baguettes also are everywhere, though they are crispier and lighter than the loaves found in France- and more likely to be stuffed with a distinctively Vietnamese riot of contrasting flavors.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 3, 2023

McDonald’s franchisees installed filtration equipment to ensure the cleanest, crispiest flavor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

The real power of this recipe comes in the sauce and garnish: salmoriglio, an Italian sauce that's like a mashup of pesto, chimichurri and salsa verde — and the crispiest fried leeks imaginable.

From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2025

Not only will eliminating moisture ensure the crispiest chickpeas, it also “prevents them from flying all over your oven,” Jess Damuck says in “Salad Freak: Recipes to Feed a Healthy Obsession.”

From Washington Post ● Feb. 28, 2022

With much respect to the original, here’s a slightly modified version with some techniques borrowed from Korean and Japanese fried chicken in a quest for the crispiest skin possible.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2021

Will, as an atonement for the ungentle way in which he had come in upon his sister after school, offered her the nicest plate of berries, and insisted that she should take the crispiest roll.

From Happy Days for Boys and Girls by Various

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