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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fragile contrast with its synonyms?

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.

a fragile antique chair

In what contexts can brittle take the place of fragile?

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.

brittle bones

When is it sensible to use crisp instead of fragile?

Although the words crisp and fragile have much in common, crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

Where would frangible be a reasonable alternative to fragile?

The words frangible and fragile can be used in similar contexts, but frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

When would friable be a good substitute for fragile?

While in some cases nearly identical to fragile, friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fragile Today, as the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas enters its most fragile phase, no one knows who will control the future of Gaza. Rachel Abrams, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 The hair of Black people is especially fragile and prone to this type of thinning.4 These tips can help:4 Go to a profession for hair care, especially for treatments like relaxers and perms that involve harsh chemicals. Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2025 The Spurs’ news in the last week has reminded the NBA world how fragile life can be. Zach Harper, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 The result is exceedingly fragile and disintegrates if allowed to dry. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fragile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragile
Adjective
  • Forget the dark and moody color palette that dominated fall and winter manicures for a moment; spring’s hottest nail trends are all about joy-inducing hues, delicate detailing, and unexpected accents.
    Mica Ricketts, refinery29.com, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The Human Element While technology drives these innovations, successful implementation requires a delicate balance.
    Antony Robinson, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The indictment alleges Tian also sent Duan links to Google Drive accounts containing sensitive information on US military weapons systems, such as Bradley and Stryker US Army fighting vehicles.
    Karina Tsui, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Ilia’s Clean Line Gel Eyeliner is a sight for sensitive eyes.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite being a very small heavyweight at 210 pounds, sophomore Daniel Moylan, took third at 285.
    Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Places to Eat Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. Both Green and LeFevre suggest starting your day at Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. in Tropic, a small community in the Bryce Valley area.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Aromas of cranberries and mocha; brittle acidity and flavors that include brownies.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • SpaceX is experimenting with metallic tile designs, including one with active cooling, that might be less brittle than the ceramic tiles used elsewhere on the ship.
    Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • No clear alternative exists in most legal documents when the frail or impaired aging parent refuses to resign and allow the competent adult child to take over, either financial decisions, healthcare decisions or both.
    Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Last week, three male Israeli hostages who were released were frail and gaunt — appearing to be in worse condition than previous hostages Hamas released.
    Daniel Estrin, NPR, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The indices are etched directly into the external crystal to maintain the slim profile.
    Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • With Republicans holding slim majorities in the House and Senate, Trump framed the speech as an opportunity to rally his party behind his policies, even as tensions simmered within GOP ranks over recent moves on trade and foreign aid.
    Nik Popli, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Korea Airports Corporation’s safety standards have come into question, with critics arguing that if the antenna array had been installed on a more easily breakable mount, as in many other airports, the disaster might have been less severe.
    Jin Yu Young, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Here are all the new maps: Bounty (Launch) Bounty is a new 6v6, medium-sized core map where players will face off against each other in a crime lord's luxurious skyscraper, complete with a penthouse, nightclub, a skylight with breakable glass, and more shiny areas.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Because the baseball season is long, every off day — both in spring training and in the regular season — is cherished as a time to spend time away from the constant grind of the season.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The companies are also planning another event in December for athletes in leagues that are in their off seasons at the time, like the WNBA, NWSL, and MLB.
    Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fragile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragile. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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