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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 The news came as a fragile limited ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia was in place. Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025 There, humans live uneasily beside giant spiders, bats, cockroaches and rats–but the fragile peace is about to fall apart. Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 But college coaching is a profession built on a rickety bridge of fragile friendships that can rot away with each tipoff, every recruiting battle and the always dangerous game of measuring one against the other. Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025 While this week's strikes have shattered what had often appeared to be a fragile ceasefire, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said Thursday in a statement that talks with mediators were ongoing. Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fragile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragile
Adjective
  • Reinforcing its status as a rising force in contemporary fashion, Ann Andelman’s boutique launch coincides with the release of the label’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection — a range that explores the delicate balance between sensibility and emotion through a dreamlike visual narrative.
    Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • After more than 30 years, Wimberley Glassworks still flourishes and its gallery is bursting with color—plates in kaleidoscopic shades, delicate pieces glowing brightly on tables, sculptures fanning out in rainbows over the walls, as if outraged by the white paint.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The rise in interest rates and inflation could dampen the growth prospects of shale oil producers, particularly smaller companies that are highly sensitive to borrowing costs.
    Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The business is also highly sensitive to energy prices and bitcoin price, two areas the president is able to influence through policy.
    Pete Gannon, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Liberals' smallest lead was in a poll conducted by Innovative Research among 1,548 Canadian citizens, which showed the party with a lead of just 2 points, on 36 percent to the Conservatives' 34 percent—a lead within the poll's 3 percent margin of error.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Retail trade, which includes small and large clothing stores, lost 6,700 jobs, around 5,500 of which were not in department stores.
    Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes bones to become weakened and brittle.
    Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • If there is no sign of life after the third week of June passes and the stems feel dry and brittle, your plant is likely dead.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • His rapping has a frail, slithering quality; his vocal tone morphs between cute squeakiness and ragged rottweiler growls.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In our grandparents’ day, families weren’t dispersed across the country, and family members often took care of their frail relatives.
    Steve Vernon, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That means with the slim majority in the House, two seats could flip the other direction.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Ensure the keep pile isn’t overflowing while your donate pile is slim.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Intraplate or deep quakes, like the 2001 Nisqually quake, cause less surface shaking. Subduction zone quakes are the most powerful. Get your home earthquake-ready by anchoring heavy furniture, water heaters and appliances and putting breakable things onto lower shelves.
    Christine Clarridge, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Per standards set by the United Nations (U.N.), all structures next to runways should be made of a breakable material.
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Alcaraz, who lives his best life at Indian Wells, playing golf on his off days and pummeling his opponent, chalked up the slow start and the loss to having fallen into the trap of thinking too much about his opponent rather than focusing on himself.
    Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fragile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragile. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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