brittle

[brit-l]

adjective

brittler, brittlest 

1. having hardness and rigidity but little tensile strength; breaking readily with a comparatively smooth fracture, as glass.

   Synonyms: fragile

2. easily damaged or destroyed; fragile; frail.

   a brittle marriage.

3. lacking warmth, sensitivity, or compassion; aloof; self-centered.

   a self-possessed, cool, and rather brittle person.

4. having a sharp, tense quality.

   a brittle tone of voice.

5. unstable or impermanent; evanescent.

noun

1. a confection of melted sugar, usually with nuts, brittle when cooled.

   peanut brittle.

verb (used without object)

brittled, brittling 

1. to be or become brittle; crumble.

brittle

/ ˈbrɪtəl /

adjective

1. easily cracked, snapped, or broken; fragile

2. curt or irritable

   a brittle reply

3. hard or sharp in quality

noun

1. a crunchy sweet made with treacle and nuts

   peanut brittle

brittle

1. Having a tendency to break when subject to high stress. Brittle materials have undergone very little strain when they reach their elastic limit, and tend to break at that limit.

2. Compare ductile

Other Word Forms

• brittleness noun
• unbrittle adjective
• unbrittleness noun
• brittlely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of brittle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English britel, equivalent to brit- (akin to Old English brysten “fragment”) + -el adjective suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of brittle¹

C14: from Old English brytel (unattested); related to brytsen fragment, brēotan to break

Synonym Study

See frail ¹.

Example Sentences

Many officials have become more confident that price increases due to tariffs aren’t likely to be repeated because the labor market is more brittle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Austrian officials insist the brittle object is too delicate to move from its perch in Vienna’s renowned Weltmuseum.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hyperoptimized networks could become fragile black boxes, highly efficient but brittle when confronted by shocks or adversarial attacks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There are beautifully brittle love songs, most memorably “Love Me Like You Used to Do,” where she’s joined by old pal and fellow non-drinker Tyler Childers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Fear is one of the authoritarian’s topmost tools, and satire reminds us how brittle it is.

Read more on Salon