Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective frangible contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of frangible are brittle, crisp, fragile, and friable. While all these words mean "breaking easily," frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

When would brittle be a good substitute for frangible?

The meanings of brittle and frangible largely overlap; however, brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

When is it sensible to use crisp instead of frangible?

In some situations, the words crisp and frangible are roughly equivalent. However, crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

When can fragile be used instead of frangible?

The synonyms fragile and frangible are sometimes interchangeable, but fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

When could friable be used to replace frangible?

Although the words friable and frangible have much in common, friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Examples of frangible in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web Solid fences are safer today thanks to safety features like frangible pins and MIM clips that make a fence fall or collapse when hit. Olivia Hampton, NPR, 5 June 2024 If the boat does not stop, the Interceptor pulls alongside and the agent fires with disintegrating frangible ammunition into the boat’s engine. New York Times, 28 Jan. 2021 Nagel pumped the shotgun and chambered the first frangible round. New York Times, 28 Jan. 2021 At 1,000 metres, a frangible bolt—which was supposed to detach explosively in the event of power loss to shed weight—broke off. The Economist, 6 Sep. 2019 Now the team, led by Professor of Computer Vision Paul Rosin, is asking for more texts too fragile to be opened, hoping to ease the burden on historical researchers hesitant to examine the frangible objects. Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, 4 Oct. 2018 Details needed to be worked out, such as a requirement that school guns fire only frangible bullets, which break apart into small pieces and are unlikely to pass through victims, as a way to limit the danger to innocent students. Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 19 May 2018 Ascendance International was exhibiting its trademark frangible bullets with a full-auto AR-15. Elliott Woods, The New Republic, 16 Apr. 2018 This guy visited Bam two months ago to take extensive tourist pictures of Bam’s famous and highly frangible mud-brick structures. Wired Staff, WIRED, 30 Dec. 2003
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frangible
Adjective
  • But limited data and the fragile condition of the fossils make a detailed comparison difficult, officials said.
    Peter Guo, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024
  • The strike costs Boeing $1 billion a month, according to S&P Global Ratings, and getting to a speedy conclusion is crucial for the fragile aerospace supply chain, where furloughs are already beginning.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • This mineral helps promote bone density and strength to prevent injury and osteoporosis (a bone disease in which bones become weak and brittle).
    Isabel Vasquez RD LDN, Health, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Dry air may not seem like the most pressing beauty issue, but according to Suzanne Friedler, MD, clinical instructor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, changes in humidity can lead to issues like dry, brittle hair and leathery skin.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Amid that delicate task, the central bank could fall under an uncomfortable political spotlight should Trump follow his previous pattern of publicly attacking Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Navigating this landscape requires a delicate balance, especially as consumers increasingly expect fast, seamless service.
    Gary Drenik, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near frangible

Cite this Entry

“Frangible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frangible. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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