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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective frail contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of frail are decrepit, feeble, fragile, infirm, and weak. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

When would decrepit be a good substitute for frail?

The words decrepit and frail can be used in similar contexts, but decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

When could feeble be used to replace frail?

While the synonyms feeble and frail are close in meaning, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

When can fragile be used instead of frail?

In some situations, the words fragile and frail are roughly equivalent. However, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

Where would infirm be a reasonable alternative to frail?

While in some cases nearly identical to frail, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

When is weak a more appropriate choice than frail?

The words weak and frail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

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 frail 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 But there’s this very vulnerable and frail side to him. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025 His frail voice also put on display the severity of his condition. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frail
Adjective
  • Israel Defense Forces leveled a village in northern Gaza in the days following the collapse of the fragile ceasefire that went into effect earlier this year.
    Kerem Inal, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Together these missions have let planetary scientists like me study pristine, fragile carbonaceous material from asteroids.
    Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In late March, four Taiwanese soldiers, three of whom were part of a unit that provides security for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, were jailed for up to seven years after being convicted of selling pictures of sensitive information to China.
    Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Cooling, calming, and tailor-made for sensitive skin, this mask drapes delicately across your face to deliver a serious hit of cica (Centella asiatica) and allantoin—soothing redness and dryness in minutes.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead called the case weak and a deterrent to tech investment in a blog post on Sunday.
    Jody Godoy, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Dell Technologies’ balance sheet appears relatively weak.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With any luck, a little digestive distress will be just a small trade-off for getting past your illness and feeling like yourself again.
    Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Nudie Jeans has a big idea for a new small retail concept.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The graceful curvature of the leather seatbacks and straps encasing the sofas were a marvel, somehow both sturdy and delicate.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Loose clusters of delicate, sweetly-scented flowers appear in April and May.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Maresca’s post-match insistence that the Frenchman’s struggles are not down to a lack of effort felt as feeble and unconvincing as the sum of his contribution over 45 listless first-half minutes.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Salvi’s wife, Kathy, current chair of the statewide GOP, has the unenviable task of trying to rebuild what is a feeble Republican Party in deep-blue Illinois.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Lightweight Sweats Classic Zip Hoodie is incredibly soft and pairs beautifully with their ultra-soft ribbed pieces like the Ribbed Modal Body Long Sleeve.
    Sarah Boyd, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The women on board could soon be heard whooping in joy as three massive parachutes deployed after about nine minutes into the flight and the capsule made a soft landing two minutes later in the desert, sending up plumes of dust.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The blush duo contains two blush shades in one palette and has a slim, lightweight design that fits easily in a purse or makeup bag.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The slim margin means that if Griffin succeeds in throwing even a fraction of the ballots in the race out, the results could swing in his favor.
    Lucille Sherman, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frail. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on frail

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