crustier; crustiest
1
: having or being a crust
2
: giving an effect of surly incivility in address or disposition
crustily adverb
crustiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for crusty

bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, crusty, gruff mean abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner.

bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

Examples of crusty in a Sentence

a basket of warm, crusty bread We could see deer tracks in the crusty snow bank.
Recent Examples on the Web Get the recipe > Best Jamaican Jerk Chicken The key to jerk chicken that tastes like it does in Jamaica is to use pimento wood and make sure your meat gets those dark, crusty edges. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 14 Feb. 2024 Bake until batter is done and the top of the pie is a golden, crusty brown. Cindy Dampier, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The crusty old leader of the Amazon River’s hidden macaw tribe isn’t exactly impressed with his son-in-law, or his son-in-law’s fanny pack. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Ruiz-Redondo and his team are awaiting a full laboratory analysis of Cova Dones’ motifs—including radiometric dating of their crusty mineral coverings—but until then, a couple of logical approaches provide some clarity. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 Give each bowl a swirl of olive oil and serve with a hunk of crusty bread. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2024 After a short while on the stove, the flour from the chicken helps to thicken the liquid ever so slightly, turning it into a sauce begging to be sopped up with crusty bread, white rice or the grain of your choosing. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 Serve with crusty bread for a hearty meal. 18 of 20Annabelle Breakey Meatball Vegetable Soup The flavors are very gentle, making this a great family dish. Ben Fogel, Sunset Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 Instead, these filling meals put vegetables center stage, often involving lavish amounts of legumes braised in olive oil and tomato — plus plenty of crusty bread to sop up the juices. Christopher Kimball, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crusty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crusty was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near crusty

Cite this Entry

“Crusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crusty. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

crusty

adjective
crustier; crustiest
1
: having or being a crust
2
crustiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on crusty

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