embrittle

[ em-brit-l ]

verb (used with or without object)

, em·brit·tled, em·brit·tling.

1. to make or become brittle.

Word History and Origins

Origin of embrittle¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From Scientific American