crusty

UK: /ˈkrʌsti/ US: /ˈkrʌsti/ ,(krus′tē)

Inflections of 'crusty' (adj):

crustier

adj comparative

crustiest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

crust•y /ˈkrʌsti/   adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

1. having a hard crust:
   crusty bread.
2. bad-tempered;
   grouchy;
   impatient:
   a crusty old neighbor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

crust•y  (krus′tē), adj., crust•i•er, crust•i•est. 

1. Food having a crisp or thick crust:
   a loaf of crusty French bread.
2. of the nature of or resembling a crust.
3. harsh;
   surly;
   rude:
   a crusty remark.

• 1350–1400; Middle English; see crust, -y¹

crust′i•ly, adv. 
crust′i•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. testy, prickly, touchy; curt, brusque.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crusty / ˈkrʌstɪ/ adjective (crustier, crustiest)

1. having or characterized by a crust, esp having a thick crust
2. having a rude or harsh character or exterior; surly; curt

ˈcrustily adverb

ˈcrustiness noun