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.

---

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

---

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

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.

Example Sentences

That puts Warsh in a delicate spot from the start.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The photo paired the delicate, watery planet Earth with the harsh, huge curve of the Moon, separated by black space -- and recalled 1968's iconic "Earthrise" image.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

See Vija Celmins’s expanses of wave-capped oceans, which remain as delicate and ephemeral in drypoint as they are in oil.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The true costs of this war are yet to be counted, and if this ceasefire or delicate negotiations fail they could become far steeper.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

He cradled the object inside like a delicate gem.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Related Words

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