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 smileRaymond Chandler
frailly adverb
frailness noun
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
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.
Costars from her final film Something Wicked recall a frail star who was a shell of herself in those months prior to her untimely death 15 years ago. Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024 Her body, now frail and brittle, is also contorted and rearranged. Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024 His activities centered on chores, errands, and caring for Johanna, who was too frail to walk. Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 15 Dec. 2024 The two had spent years in court, battling over the family fortune, but Maureen, now eighty-nine, was frail, no longer the monster of Blackwood’s youth. Negar Azimi, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for frail 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of frail was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near frail

Cite this Entry

“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frail. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

frail

adjective
1
: easily led into evil
frail humanity
2
3
: not having normal strength or force
spoke in a frail voice
frailly adverb
frailness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on frail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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