frail

adjective

ˈfrāl 

1

: easily led into evil

frail humanity

2

: easily broken or destroyed : fragile

… frail, open-cockpit biplanes …

—Jonathan Weiner

3

a

: physically weak

a frail old woman

a frail voice

b

: slight, unsubstantial

smiled a minute frail smile

—Raymond Chandler

frailly

ˈfrā(l)-lē 

adverb

frailness noun

Synonyms

• breakable
• delicate
• fragile
• frangible

Choose the Right Synonym for frail

weak, feeble, frail, fragile, infirm, decrepit mean not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort.

weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or disabling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

Examples of frail in a Sentence

In his old age his health became increasingly frail.

a small and frail ship

Recent Examples on the Web

The extraordinary shot of a frail, diseased young Don Vito on Ellis Island, looking out on the Statue of Liberty, sets the table for a decades-spanning journey through a country where opportunity is not extended, but seized through violence and dirty dealing. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024

At a time when post-menopausal women still are stereotyped as dependent and frail, Kim’s film is a refreshing reality check. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 11 Oct. 2024

The spirit of resistance may prove too frail, and too exhausted, to rise again to the contest. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024

Videos of the 90-year-old Four Seasons frontman have gone viral on social media platforms like TikTok in recent weeks due to the singer appearing frail and disoriented on stage. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English frele, frayle, borrowed from Anglo-French frel, fraile, going back to Latin fragilis "liable to break, weak" — more at fragile

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

frail

adjective

ˈfrā(ə)l 

1

: easily led into evil

frail humanity

2

: fragile

3

: not having normal strength or force

spoke in a frail voice

frailly

ˈfrā(ə)l-lē 

adverb

frailness noun