brittle

1 of 2

adjective

brit·​tle ˈbri-tᵊl How to pronounce brittle (audio)
brittler ˈbrit-lər How to pronounce brittle (audio)
ˈbri-tᵊl-ər
; brittlest ˈbrit-ləst How to pronounce brittle (audio)
ˈbri-tᵊl-əst
1
a
: easily broken, cracked, or snapped
brittle clay
brittle glass
b
: easily disrupted, overthrown, or damaged : frail
a brittle friendship
2
3
: easily hurt or offended : sensitive
a brittle personality
4
: sharp
the brittle staccato of snare drums
5
: lacking warmth, depth, or generosity of spirit : cold
a brittle selfish person
6
medical : affected with or being a form of type 1 diabetes characterized by large and unpredictable fluctuations in blood glucose level
brittlely adverb
brittleness noun

brittle

2 of 2

noun

: a candy made with caramelized sugar and nuts spread in thin sheets
peanut brittle
Choose the Right Synonym for brittle

fragile, frangible, brittle, crisp, friable mean breaking easily.

fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Examples of brittle in a Sentence

Adjective a brittle cracker that turned into crumbs in my pocket a brittle apology that was anything but heartfelt
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Hair type: Best for natural hair types (wavy, curly, kinky, coily) 3/19 Best for Fine Hair: Art Naturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo A great option for repairing thin, brittle, and damaged hair, Dr. Green praises this product for its powerful combination of ingredients. Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024 Most plastics can only be recycled a few times before becoming too brittle. Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024 During the testing period, our tester dyed her hair red and orange and said the shampoo kept her strands smooth and shiny and never brittle. Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 14 Jan. 2024 The beef rice is firmer and more brittle than the typically sticky, soft texture of regular rice – and is higher in protein and fat, the study found. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024 Due to the altered chemical compositions, however, the rice generally proved firmer and more brittle than standard grains. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Feb. 2024 Their helmets clashed and, likely because of the extreme cold that made the outer shell brittle, a fist-sized chunk went flying from Mahomes' helmet just above the facemask covering his left eye. Dave Skretta, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024 But other causes of weak, thin, or brittle nails are self-inflicted. Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 7 Dec. 2023 Not tough, not brittle—sitting in that Goldilocks range of crispy meets chewy. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 8 Feb. 2024
Noun
Both are moderate trails that support a mix of cactus and wildflowers on rocky slopes with an abundance of brittles. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 Both are moderate trails that support a nice mix of wildflowers with an abundance of brittles. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2023 Start with a beguilingly creamy (yet dairy-free) scoop of roasted-pineapple sorbet, followed by a slice of coconut layer cake whose daintiness belies the zing of its lime curd and its cashew-pink-peppercorn brittle. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2022 Legend is a natural blend of highly nourishing ingredients like argan, jojoba, grapeseed oils, and an extra boost of vitamin E. Together, these ingredients work to soften, hydrate, and repair the brittle or split strands of your beard. Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022 The perfect pairing for his after-hours drink, this buttery brittle is made with cocoa beans roasted in aged bourbon barrels. Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 4 Jan. 2023 This causes bones to become weaker and brittle, which often leads to conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2022 Bridge vaults overhead, as if extending a muscular arm over the brittle-looking buildings below. Curbed, 25 Feb. 2022 Add brittle and chocolate to dough; beat on low speed just until incorporated, about 10 seconds. People Staff, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brittle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English britil; akin to Old English brēotan to break, Old Norse brjōta

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brittle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near brittle

Cite this Entry

“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brittle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brittle

1 of 2 adjective
brit·​tle ˈbrit-ᵊl How to pronounce brittle (audio)
brittler ˈbrit-lər How to pronounce brittle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
; brittlest -ləst How to pronounce brittle (audio)
-ᵊl-əst
: easily broken, cracked, or snapped
brittle glass
brittleness noun

brittle

2 of 2 noun
: a hard candy made with sugar and nuts and spread in thin sheets
peanut brittle

Medical Definition

brittle

adjective
brit·​tle ˈbrit-ᵊl How to pronounce brittle (audio)
: affected with or being a form of type 1 diabetes characterized by large and unpredictable fluctuations in blood glucose level
brittle diabetes
a brittle diabetic

More from Merriam-Webster on brittle

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