fragile

[ fraj-uhl; British 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

Derived Forms

• ˈfragilely, adverb
• fragility, noun

Other Words From

• fragile·ly adverb
• fra·gil·i·ty [fr, uh, -, jil, -i-tee], fragile·ness noun
• non·fragile adjective
• non·fragile·ly adverb
• non·fragile·ness noun
• nonfra·gili·ty noun
• over·fragile adjective
• un·fragile 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

The tax rises were a "hammer blow to already fragile practice finances", said the GP, adding: "It feels like a kick in the teeth when you are already really down."

From BBC

"The connection between water and land is essential and that balance is growing increasingly fragile."

From Science Daily

A fragile calm hangs over the Dutch capital, still reeling from the unrest that erupted a week ago when Israeli football fans came under attack in the centre of Amsterdam.

From BBC

With boxing's already fragile reputation being tested, will Tyson and Paul treat this as a 'real' fight?

From BBC

If Trump’s first term is any indicator, the next four years will be an unmitigated mess of infighting, corruption, revolving door staff, facile demands and fragile egotism.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brittle
• delicate
• feeble
• flimsy
• frail
• frangible
• infirm
• shatterable
• weak