fragile
adjective
Synonyms
- breakable
- delicate
- frail
- frangible
Example Sentences
Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 The consequences of that strategy, however, are that that system becomes very fragile once that centerpiece is removed. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022 Mules and hinnies, born of unions between horse and donkey, are generally sterile; big-cat hybrids such as ligers and tigons—blends between lion and tiger that have been bred in captivity—often end up in very fragile health. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 July 2022 After all, the relationship with customers is always very fragile – and all the more so when serving luxury shoppers. Walter Loeb, Forbes, 13 June 2022 The original dress was so fragile that after her slow climb up the red carpet, Kardashian changed into a replica. New York Times, 18 May 2022 My strong, outgoing, outspoken mother seemed so fragile. San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2022 But the Ukraine leaks are much worse than the norm — because of their potential to upset already very fragile relations between Washington and Moscow. Damon Linker, The Week, 10 May 2022 The egg is so fragile and yet the tradition has not left -- the tradition was not killed throughout the centuries. Stephanie Griffith, CNN, 16 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fragile, borrowed from Latin fragilis, from frag-, variant stem of frangere "to break, shatter" + -ilis "subject to, susceptible to (the action of the verb)" (alteration of -ibilis -ible, originally by haplology after verb stems ending in a labial consonant) — more at break entry 1
1521, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing fragile
Kids Definition
fragile
adjective
fragile
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- delicate
- brittle
- frail
- breakable
- weak
- frangible
- fine
- tenuous
- soft
- feeble
- flimsy
- shaky
- dainty
- short
- gossamer
- friable
- flaky
- crumbly
- eggshell
- spindly
- crispy
- crushable
- infirm
- crisp
- slight
- inflexible
- tender
- flakey
- shivery
- inelastic
- embrittled
- stiff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strong
- sturdy
- tough
- rigid
- solid
- substantial
- hard
- compact
- unbreakable
- resilient
- unyielding
- nonbreakable
- firm
- flexible
- infrangible
- elastic
- supple
- rubbery
- springy
- stretch
- rubberlike
- stretchable
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sensitive
- delicate
- frail
- weak
- vulnerable
- brittle
- tender
- soft
- feeble
- friable
- tenuous
- breakable
- flimsy
- puny
- eggshell
- susceptible
- perishable
- frangible
- crushable
- slight
- yielding
- unresistant
- resistless
- nonhardy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tough
- strong
- sturdy
- durable
- robust
- solid
- rugged
- hard
- substantial
- hardy
- resistant
- stiff
- sound
- stout
- firm
- unbreakable
- flinty
- hardened
- strengthened
- tempered
- nonbreakable
- infrangible
- toughened
- inured
Synonyms & Similar Words
- small
- slim
- off
- outside
- negligible
- remote
- marginal
- frail
- tiny
- minimal
- slight
- minor
- little
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- large
- good
- great
- healthy
- significant
- distinct
- substantial
- significant
- considerable
- sizable
- respectable
- sizeable
- tidy
- largish
- goodly
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of fragile are brittle, crisp, frangible, and friable. While all these words mean "breaking easily," fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.
The words brittle and fragile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.
Although the words crisp and fragile have much in common, crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.
The words frangible and fragile can be used in similar contexts, but frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.
While in some cases nearly identical to fragile, friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.