embrittle

American

[em-brit-l] / ɛmˈbrɪt l /

verb (used with or without object)

embrittled, embrittling

to make or become brittle.

Etymology

Origin of embrittle

First recorded in 1900–05; em- ¹ + brittle

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.

And hydrogen can embrittle steel pipelines unless that is mitigated by altering operating conditions or incorporating expensive alloys.

From Scientific American

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023