crunchier

Crunchier is the comparative form of the adjective crunchy. It is used to describe something that has a greater degree of crunch, typically in texture or sound. In food contexts, a crunchier product is firmer or drier and yields a louder, more pronounced bite than a standard version. The distinction between crunchy and crispy is that crispy often suggests a thin, brittle texture, while crunchy describes a denser, more substantial bite; crunchier simply marks the next degree on this scale. Beyond food, crunchier can appear in metaphorical uses to indicate more intensive processing or analysis, such as crunchier data or a crunchier schedule, though such uses are less formal and more common in journalism or marketing.

Formation and usage notes: Crunchy forms its comparative as crunchier by adding -ier after -y. When the stem ends with -y preceded by a consonant, the -y typically remains and the comparative suffix is -ier (crunchy → crunchier). Pronunciation is typically /ˈkrʌntʃ.i.ər/ in English. The term is usually reserved for descriptive or evaluative contexts and should avoid implying a value judgment beyond the intended intensity of crunch; in some contexts, alternative adjectives like crisper or harder might be preferred.