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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

Like walking through a sparse forest in early autumn, the air sharp with smoke from a campfire, leaves underfoot brittle enough to crack.

From Salon

Will Wright, UK chief executive of Interpath, said economic challenges such as "rising costs and brittle consumer confidence" had proved "too challenging to overcome" for Seraphine.

From BBC

Em was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, so her family has treated her delicately her entire life.

From Los Angeles Times