1
as in subtle
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness
a heavy sauce would spoil the delicate flavor of this fish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
only a person with delicate taste buds could tell the difference between these two wines
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3
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
the delicate handling of a difficult diplomatic situation
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4
as in fragile
easily broken
delicate glassware that must be carefully wrapped for shipping
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5
as in frail
easily injured without careful handling
the delicate ecosystem of the wetlands
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6
as in careful
hard to please
a person of delicate tastes
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7
as in elegant
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste
delicate perfumes that only a connoisseur of scents would appreciate
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8
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
a delicate child who was never allowed to play sports
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9
as in nice
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
delicate measurements of brain tumors that are only possible using the latest medical technology
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10
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy
extremely delicate instruments such as an atomic clock
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11
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
a delicate breeze was floating in from the open window
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12
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the delicate challenge of inviting two people who don't like each other to the same party
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of delicate
They’re made with the kind of care that shows in every delicate, pastel-colored wafer.
—
Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
The delicate floral pattern on the sky blue background looks as if it was painted on and the sheets feel as such, almost like a breeze.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 1 Apr. 2026
Ethanol is also a solvent that can eat away at delicate rubber seals and plastics in older engines, potentially causing major damage, which is one of the reasons why it’s usually capped at 10%.
—Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
The matter is particularly delicate because of Swalwell's role in the California governor's race.
—Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delicate
Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
The delicate floral pattern on the sky blue background looks as if it was painted on and the sheets feel as such, almost like a breeze.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 1 Apr. 2026
Ethanol is also a solvent that can eat away at delicate rubber seals and plastics in older engines, potentially causing major damage, which is one of the reasons why it’s usually capped at 10%.
—Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
The matter is particularly delicate because of Swalwell's role in the California governor's race.
—Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delicate
Adjective
-
Another camera, an eye tuned to the subtle strangeness of an otherwise ordinary day—someone or something, somewhere, must have caught a glimmer of the truth.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Vice President Vance, who is considered an isolationist, expressed private skepticism ahead of the attacks, and his relative silence during the first weeks of the war was perceived as a subtle way of distancing himself from the conflict.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This wasn’t surprising, given that intelligence agencies compartmentalize information about sensitive operations.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
It is well understood in the region that could mean things like broad targeting of sensitive and highly vulnerable energy installations, something Iran has already threatened, essential for the regional and global economies, as well as hard to quickly repair and rebuild.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The French Connection is now mostly remembered for its virtuoso chase scene and Gene Hackman’s charm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Slafkovský had two goals and an assist in a virtuoso performance, and Iowa Wild goaltender Samuel Hlavaj was sensational, stopping 39 of 40 shots, including an 18-save first period that gave his team belief that the improbable was possible.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Vested with the responsibility of finding havens for some of the county’s most fragile, lonely people, often without relatives or those able to care for them, Hernandez has been accused of treating them like commodities.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The joint move from Kennedy and Zeldin comes as activists from Kennedy’s MAHA movement have forged fragile political ties with the EPA but expressed frustration with lack of action on their priorities, including pesticide regulation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Orion is a tight space for four people to navigate, so the crew members have a careful choreography to maximize the data the astronauts can gather.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Through careful tuning of an extended Kalman filter and by taking advantage of bamboo’s natural vibration-damping properties, the system slashes control latency from 15–20 milliseconds down to just 8–10 milliseconds, enhancing responsiveness while keeping flight stable.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The spa Set over 27,000 square feet and four floors; the elegant Guerlain Spa and Pillar Wellbeing was created by the studio Goddard Littlefair.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Cabins are rustically elegant and come with one to four bedrooms.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The slide appears to have involved a thick slab of soft snow breaking loose at a weak layer in the snowpack, the report said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Endowed not only with a privileged birthright but—unlike the actual princes over in England, who had weak chins and went bald young—the physical stature to match?—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
My room had a large bathtub right by the window, a spacious walk-in shower, and Niven Morgan bath products (a nice touch, given that the brand is from Dallas).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The company flew Tony to Cupertino and put him up in a nice hotel with a fruit basket waiting in the room.—
Bill Gurley,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delicate. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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