brittle

adjective

brit·​tle ˈbri-tᵊl 

brittler

ˈbrit-lər, 

ˈbri-tᵊl-ər  ; brittlest

ˈbrit-ləst, 

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

a

: perishable, mortal

b

: transitory, evanescent

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

ˈbri-tᵊl-(l)ē 

adverb

brittleness

ˈbri-tᵊl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of brittle

• crisp
• fragile
• crumbly
• friable
• crisped
• flaky

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

a brittle cracker that turned into crumbs in my pocket

a brittle apology that was anything but heartfelt

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a gathering problem, especially when coupled with stresses on brittle supply chains, raising questions about whether new space funding can be allocated in a timely manner. —Michael P. Dempsey, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026

There’s a fair bit of mirth in all this, and in Glanz’s brittle, snippy dialogue, which is abetted by the casting. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 4 June 2026

The oil nourishes weak and brittle strands, leaving them stronger and more moisturized. —Jailynn Taylor, InStyle, 1 June 2026

Underwatering causes the leaves to look dry and brittle. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing brittle

• brittle bone disease
• brittle bones
• brittle star

Rhymes for brittle

• acquittal
• belittle
• committal
• hospital
• popliteal
• submittal
• transmittal
• kittel
• kittle
• little
• spital
• spittle

Kids Definition

brittle

1 of 2 adjective

brit·​tle ˈbrit-ᵊl 

brittler ˈbrit-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

; brittlest -ləst 

-ᵊl-əst

: easily broken, cracked, or snapped

brittle glass

brittleness

ˈbrit-ᵊl-nəs 

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 

: 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