crusty

adjective

ˈkrə-stē How to pronounce crusty (audio)
Definition of crustynext
as in blunt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner a crusty old fisherman who doesn't care to have his picture taken with silly tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word crusty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of crusty are bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, and gruff. While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

Where would bluff be a reasonable alternative to crusty?

The synonyms bluff and crusty are sometimes interchangeable, but bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

When can blunt be used instead of crusty?

While the synonyms blunt and crusty are close in meaning, blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

When might brusque be a better fit than crusty?

The words brusque and crusty can be used in similar contexts, but brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

When could curt be used to replace crusty?

While in some cases nearly identical to crusty, curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

When is gruff a more appropriate choice than crusty?

Although the words gruff and crusty have much in common, gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

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 crusty Go with your favorite sourdough or crusty artisan bread. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2025 Fresh grated Parmesan and crusty bread: For serving. —Renu Dhar, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025 Serve this as a first course or as a main, accompanied by a simple green salad and crusty bread. —Georgeanne Brennan, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025 Serve it with crusty bread and more beer for a true Super Bowl win. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crusty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crusty
  1. blunt
  2. gruff
  3. abrupt
  4. short
  5. outspoken
  6. brusque
  7. curt
Adjective
  • Palico's attacks with blunt weapons do not inflict stun and exhaust damages.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Trump’s disruptive and at times blunt methods brought us here.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of blunt
Adjective
  • In The Empire’s frame, residents of a coastal village in northern France — gruff, virile fisherman Jony (Brandon Vlieghe) and teenage tease Line (Lyna Khoudri) — reveal their oddball allegiance to extraterrestrial invaders.
    — Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
  • There’s a gruff and garrulous baseball pitching and hitting machine called Pop Fly (Brian Cox).
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • The abrupt methodological switch to the CPM resulted in over $9 billion worth of section 482 allocations and deficiencies of about $3.4 billion for the three-year period.
    — Ryan Finley, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Keith Kellogg, President Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, said Thursday the foreign nation knew an abrupt pause in U.S. intelligence sharing was at risk and their continued choices caused the final blow.
    — Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of abrupt
Adjective
  • In addition, short biographies of notable Black, Hispanic, and female veterans, as well as information on the lives of the Tuskegee Airmen are no longer accessible on the website.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 17 Mar. 2025
  • With the wind in such short supply, the race committee ordered all teams to leave two of their crew on the dock.
    — Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of short
Adjective
  • The actress, whose big break came in another big musical, the remake of West Side Story, has drawn her own controversy for being a little bit outspoken, there is that.
    — Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Duckworth, herself a disabled veteran, has been particularly outspoken, calling the Administration’s actions a betrayal.
    — Nik Popli, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of outspoken
Adjective
  • Young Ari doesn’t want to confront the reality that her mother might never return, though the brusque independence with which Bateman carries herself tells its own story, as though Ari has had to contend with this scenario before.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The actor lowers his voice slightly, granting the newer Mickey a more confident, brusque personality.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of brusque
Adjective
  • Scheer was smart to whittle down the novel’s winding sentences into short, sharp exclamations and curt instructions — and also to be faithful to Melville’s rendition of the captain’s irritable diction.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
  • There were abrasive, curt interviews with the media.
    — Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of curt

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Cite this Entry

“Crusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crusty. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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