fragile

[fraj-uhl, fraj-ahyl]

adjective

1. easily broken, shattered, or damaged; delicate; brittle; frail.

   a fragile ceramic container; a very fragile alliance.

2. vulnerably delicate, as in appearance.

   She has a fragile beauty.

3. lacking in substance or force; flimsy.

   a fragile excuse.

fragile

/ ˈfrædʒaɪl, frəˈdʒɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. able to be broken easily

2. in a weakened physical state

3. delicate; light

   a fragile touch

4. slight; tenuous

   a fragile link with the past

Other Word Forms

• fragilely adverb
• fragility noun
• fragileness noun
• nonfragile adjective
• nonfragilely adverb
• nonfragileness noun
• nonfragility noun
• overfragile adjective
• unfragile adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fragile¹

First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin fragilis, equivalent to frag- (variant stem of the verb frangere break ) + -ilis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of fragile¹

C17: from Latin fragilis , from frangere to break

Synonym Study

See frail ¹.

Example Sentences

Meloni said the US proposal had sparked "hope" of ending the Israel-Hamas war, adding it was "a fragile balance, which many would be happy to destroy".

From BBC

Business confidence is a vital but fragile thing.

From BBC

One of the most pristine and fragile ecosystems in the world, Aldabra is home to 400 species found nowhere else on the planet.

From BBC

It said that intensified military action, and the forced relocation of already fragile civilian populations would make the famine in Gaza "significantly more severe".

From BBC

He said fragile babies were being pumped full of liquid like they were "horses" and that combination vaccines were harmful.

From BBC

Related Words

• brittle 
• delicate 
• feeble 
• flimsy 
• frail 
• frangible 
• infirm 
• shatterable www.thesaurus.com
• weak