Word
crunchy
US/ˈkɹəntʃi/
UK/kɹˈʌntʃi/
Music
Definition
adj. describing music that has a rough, distorted, or heavy sound. You use this when the sound feels sharp and powerful rather than smooth.
adj. characterised by a gritty, distorted, or harmonically dense texture, particularly in electronic or rock music. Often used to describe guitar tones or synthesiser patches with high gain or bit-crushing effects.
Examples
“The guitar has a really crunchy sound on this track.”
“The producer added some distortion to the bassline to give it a crunchy, aggressive feel that cuts through the mix.”
“While the verses remain melodic and clean, the chorus erupts with crunchy power chords that provide a stark, visceral contrast to the earlier atmospheric sections.”
Examples
simple
“The guitar has a really crunchy sound on this track.”
contextual
“The producer added some distortion to the bassline to give it a crunchy, aggressive feel that cuts through the mix.”
complex
“While the verses remain melodic and clean, the chorus erupts with crunchy power chords that provide a stark, visceral contrast to the earlier atmospheric sections.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'sound' or 'feel'.
Real-World Examples
“Like the original, this product has a candy shell and peanut butter candy filling, with the addition of a crunchy chocolate cookie core in each bite.” “A homemade style crunchy crisp fried in olive oil is the gold standard here.” “For me, the best vehicle for mayo is a crunchy lettuce leaf or a chicken sandwich; for my wife, it’s tuna.” Etymology
From crunch + -y. The slang sense is derived from the concept of crunchy granola.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/crunchy