variants or less commonly flakey
flakier; flakiest
1
: consisting of flakes
flaky snow
2
: tending to flake
a flaky crust

flaky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

flakier; flakiest
1
: markedly odd or unconventional : offbeat, wacky
has some flaky ideas
He's nice, but a bit flaky.
2
informal : not reliable in performance or behavior : undependable
a flaky mechanism
You'll want to make sure that all the technology tools you need to effectively and efficiently serve clients are in full working order and that you won't need to worry about wasting time and money fixing broken hardware or flaky software.Henry B. Chace
… digital crutches trump face-to-face talking (even phone calls), encouraging people to be flaky and evasive …Charlotte Liberman

Examples of flaky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Here’s some essential reading: 5 tips for cooking juicy pork chops quickly 6 tips for browning food to get more flavor 7 pie crust tips for tender, flaky results every time Baking spices add complexity to savory dishes. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 Not to mention, this is formulated to relieve dry, itchy, and flaky scalps, too. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 From the dining room, there’s a clear view of the workstation where bakers spin out flaky red bean rolls, muffuletta breadsticks, and kaya morning buns. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024 Ingredients 1 cup tap water 6 large eggs Optional garnishes: flaky sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped fresh chives Directions Steam eggs in Instant Pot: Pour tap water into a programmable pressure multicooker (such as Instant Pot). Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 The fish was perfect: well-seasoned and crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024 Heat the air fryer to 350 degrees and cook fillets for 8 minutes or until the nuts are browned and the fish is flaky. Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 24 Feb. 2024 Winter weather has settled in, which means many people are contending with one of its most frustrating side effects: dry, flaky skin. Jani Hall, Health, 21 Feb. 2024 The key is using a high shortening ratio in the dough, creating a tender, flaky crust. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

see flake entry 1

Adjective (2)

flake entry 4

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

circa 1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flaky was in 1580

Dictionary Entries Near flaky

Cite this Entry

“Flaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flaky. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flaky

adjective
ˈflā-kē
flakier; flakiest
1
: consisting of flakes
2
: tending to flake
pie with a crisp flaky crust
3
: odd or strange in behavior
flakily
-kə-lē
adverb
flakiness
-kē-nəs
noun
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