antifragile

American  

[an-tee-fraj-uhl, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈfrædʒ əl, ˌæn taɪ- /

adjective

1. becoming more robust when exposed to stressors, uncertainty, or risk.

   We've made the structure sturdy and antifragile, so bad weather makes it stronger.

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Other Word Forms

• antifragility
  noun

Etymology

Origin of antifragile

Coined in 2012 by Lebanese-born U.S. mathematical statistician Nassim Nicholas Taleb (born 1960) in his book Antifragile; anti- ( def. ) + fragile ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

antifragile

These insights animate Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation,” in which the psychologist argues that children, like trees, are antifragile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

But you are antifragile if shocks and disruptions make you stronger and more creative, better able to adapt to each new challenge you face.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2012

In the eye of the storm … Taleb says the least antifragile state is the world in Saudi Arabia.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2012

The other difficulty is that too many of the ideas contained here appear thin and brittle rather than rich and flexible: fragile rather than antifragile.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2012

Taleb thinks we should all try to be antifragile.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2012