delicate

American  

[del-i-kit] / ˈdɛl ɪ kɪt /

adjective

1. fine in texture, quality, construction, etc..

   a delicate lace collar.

   Antonyms:

   coarse

2. easily broken or damaged; physically weak; fragile; frail.

   delicate porcelain;

   a delicate child.

   Synonyms:

   tender, slight, feeble, weak, frangible, flimsy, brittle

3. so fine as to be scarcely perceptible; subtle.

   a delicate flavor.

   Antonyms:

   strong, robust

4. soft or faint, as color.

   a delicate shade of pink.

5. fine or precise in action or execution; capable of responding to the slightest influence.

   a delicate instrument.

   Synonyms:

   true, accurate, precise, exact

6. requiring great care, caution, or tact.

   a delicate international situation.

   Synonyms:

   touchy, sensitive, tricky

7. distinguishing subtle differences: a delicate sense of smell.

   a delicate eye;

   a delicate sense of smell.

   Synonyms:

   perceptive, discriminating, discerning

8. exquisite or refined in perception or feeling; sensitive.

9. regardful of what is becoming, proper, etc..

   a delicate sense of propriety.

10. mindful of or sensitive to the feelings of others.

    a delicate refusal.

11. dainty or choice, as food.

    delicate tidbits.

12. primly fastidious; squeamish.

    not a movie for the delicate viewer.

13. Obsolete. sensuous; voluptuous.

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noun

1. Archaic. a choice food; delicacy.

2. Obsolete. a source of pleasure; luxury.

delicate British  

/ ˈdɛlɪkɪt /

adjective

1. exquisite, fine, or subtle in quality, character, construction, etc

2. having a soft or fragile beauty

3. (of colour, tone, taste, etc) pleasantly subtle, soft, or faint

4. easily damaged or injured; lacking robustness, esp in health; fragile

5. precise, skilled, or sensitive in action or operation

   a delicate mechanism

6. requiring tact and diplomacy

7. sensitive in feeling or manner; showing regard for the feelings of others

8. excessively refined; squeamish

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noun

1. archaic a delicacy; dainty

Related Words

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

• delicately adverb
• delicateness noun
• hyperdelicate adjective
• hyperdelicateness noun
• nondelicate adjective
• nondelicateness noun
• quasi-delicate adjective
• superdelicate adjective
• superdelicateness noun

Etymology

Origin of delicate

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus “delightful, dainty”; akin to delicious

Example Sentences

“Layoffs remain quite low, keeping the labor market in a delicate balance.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Fed chair Jerome Powell has described the economy as being in a delicate balance, with muted job creation but also relatively limited job cuts.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Diana Burgess adds cello on the delicate “Round Corral” track.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Reliably pulling off this high-energy yet delicate dance isn’t easy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

She wipes her hands on her delicate lace apron.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• delicious
• delightful
• elegant
• exquisite
• fragile
• gentle
• graceful
• mild
• rare
• soft
• subtle
• tender