delicate
Americanadjective
-
fine in texture, quality, construction, etc..
a delicate lace collar.
- Antonyms:
- coarse
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easily broken or damaged; physically weak; fragile; frail.
delicate porcelain;
a delicate child.
-
so fine as to be scarcely perceptible; subtle.
a delicate flavor.
-
soft or faint, as color.
a delicate shade of pink.
-
fine or precise in action or execution; capable of responding to the slightest influence.
a delicate instrument.
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requiring great care, caution, or tact.
a delicate international situation.
-
distinguishing subtle differences: a delicate sense of smell.
a delicate eye;
a delicate sense of smell.
- Synonyms:
- perceptive, discriminating, discerning
-
exquisite or refined in perception or feeling; sensitive.
-
regardful of what is becoming, proper, etc..
a delicate sense of propriety.
-
mindful of or sensitive to the feelings of others.
a delicate refusal.
-
dainty or choice, as food.
delicate tidbits.
-
primly fastidious; squeamish.
not a movie for the delicate viewer.
-
Obsolete. sensuous; voluptuous.
noun
-
Archaic. a choice food; delicacy.
-
Obsolete. a source of pleasure; luxury.
adjective
-
exquisite, fine, or subtle in quality, character, construction, etc
-
having a soft or fragile beauty
-
(of colour, tone, taste, etc) pleasantly subtle, soft, or faint
-
easily damaged or injured; lacking robustness, esp in health; fragile
-
precise, skilled, or sensitive in action or operation
a delicate mechanism
-
requiring tact and diplomacy
-
sensitive in feeling or manner; showing regard for the feelings of others
-
excessively refined; squeamish
noun
Synonym Usage
Delicate, dainty, exquisite imply beauty such as belongs to rich surroundings or which needs careful treatment. Delicate, used of an object, suggests fragility, small size, and often very fine workmanship: a delicate piece of carving. Dainty, in concrete references, suggests a smallness, gracefulness, and beauty that forbid rough handling: a dainty handkerchief; of persons, it refers to fastidious sensibilities: dainty in eating habits. Exquisite suggests an outstanding beauty and elegance, or a discriminating sensitivity and ability to perceive fine distinctions: an exquisite sense of humor.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of delicate
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus “delightful, dainty”; akin to delicious
Explanation
Delicate things, like a flower, a necklace, or someone’s feelings are fragile, easily broken, and often quite beautiful. A delicate situation. A delicate balance. A delicate child. A delicate lace design. A delicate taste. Sometimes the word implies intricate beauty and at other times fragility. Delicate can have negative overtones: A delicate situation is a tricky one. A delicate balance describes an agreement that might turn sour any moment. A delicate child may cry easily. But delicate can also refer to things that are very lovely and hard to reproduce: a delicate lace collar on a dress stands out. A delicate flavor, like pomegranate peach mint sauce, makes salad — or vanilla ice cream — much more delicious.
Vocabulary lists containing delicate
The Diary of Anne Frank
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Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
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Bridge to Terabithia
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Duhamel added that he was inspired by the “Patriots” survival guide and confessed that he worried about the delicate nature of a society so tech-dependent.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
How regulatory changes happen, however, is a delicate issue.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
We don’t mean to neener-neener the president at a delicate and dangerous moment.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026
McCraney, Geffen Playhouse’s artistic director, said forging a path forward in nonprofit theater without succumbing to commercial pressure to produce only guaranteed hits requires the delicate balance of surfing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Its perfume was delicate, changing from moment to moment, sometimes light and fresh, then heavy and cloying.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
