variants
or less commonly flakey
flakier; flakiest
flakier; flakiest
1
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
Henry B. Chace… digital crutches trump face-to-face talking (even phone calls), encouraging people to be flaky and evasive …—Charlotte Liberman
Charlotte LibermanExamples of flaky in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
a tender but flaky crust on the pastry
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2025
Some people with very inflamed, sensitive, or flaky skin prefer gentler, creamy washes, while others who get very oily may prefer a foamier formula.
Moisturizers and sunscreens with thinner, gel-like consistencies also feel lighter on the skin.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 16 June 2025
To me, some really nicely roasted almonds, just kind of olive oily roasted almonds with just some flaky salt and not much else.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 June 2025
During peak season, thousands of bureks—a flaky Balkan pastry filled with cheese, meat, or spinach—are made daily.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaky
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Adjective
Rotting Boards Raised bed frames made of wood can start to rot, causing the wood to feel mushy, flaky, or collapse entirely.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2025
Some people with very inflamed, sensitive, or flaky skin prefer gentler, creamy washes, while others who get very oily may prefer a foamier formula.
Moisturizers and sunscreens with thinner, gel-like consistencies also feel lighter on the skin.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 16 June 2025
To me, some really nicely roasted almonds, just kind of olive oily roasted almonds with just some flaky salt and not much else.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 June 2025
During peak season, thousands of bureks—a flaky Balkan pastry filled with cheese, meat, or spinach—are made daily.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaky
Cite this Entry
“Flaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flaky. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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