Synonyms of frail

frail

adjective

ˈfrāl 

1

as in fragile

easily broken

a frail eggshell

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fragile
• delicate
• brittle
• breakable
• weak
• frangible
• feeble
• fine
• infirm
• short
• tenuous
• dainty
• flimsy
• soft
• shaky
• gossamer
• friable
• spindly
• slight
• flaky
• crumbly
• crisp
• crispy
• tender
• inflexible
• inelastic
• stiff
• shivery
• eggshell
• crushable
• embrittled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strong
• sturdy
• tough
• unbreakable
• rigid
• substantial
• solid
• hard
• compact
• unyielding
• firm
• resilient
• elastic
• flexible
• infrangible
• supple
• nonbreakable
• rubbery
• springy
• stretch
• rubberlike
• stretchable

2

as in sensitive

easily injured without careful handling

be careful with your grandmother, as she's very frail and a fall would be disastrous

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fragile
• sensitive
• delicate
• weak
• vulnerable
• tender
• feeble
• brittle
• soft
• friable
• puny
• breakable
• tenuous
• flimsy
• susceptible
• slight
• perishable
• frangible
• crushable
• eggshell
• yielding
• resistless
• unresistant
• nonhardy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strong
• tough
• substantial
• hard
• solid
• sturdy
• hardy
• stiff
• resistant
• robust
• sound
• durable
• stout
• rugged
• firm
• unbreakable
• flinty
• hardened
• tempered
• strengthened
• infrangible
• nonbreakable
• toughened
• inured

3

as in weak

lacking bodily strength

he was frail after a long battle with bronchitis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weak
• feeble
• weakened
• infirm
• disabled
• faint
• debilitated
• enfeebled
• paralyzed
• soft
• vulnerable
• languid
• tired
• slight
• wimpy
• asthenic
• fragile
• delicate
• unsubstantial
• softened
• incapacitated
• effete
• tender
• injured
• prostrate
• exhausted
• low
• down-and-out
• wasted
• weary
• enervated
• wimpish
• prostrated
• sapped
• unsteady
• decrepit
• powerless
• invalid
• impotent
• flimsy
• drained
• damaged
• dizzy
• susceptible
• breakable
• impaired
• rocky
• hurt
• broken-down
• woozy
• groggy
• unsound
• resistless
• flagging
• worn-out
• yielding
• unresistant
• harmed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• powerful
• strong
• mighty
• stout
• muscular
• rugged
• stalwart
• athletic
• sinewy
• virile
• husky
• sturdy
• beefy
• hardy
• hard
• robust
• brawny
• tough
• fit
• able-bodied
• lusty
• vigorous
• hardened
• energetic
• healthy
• fortified
• capable
• strengthened
• sound
• competent
• strapping
• hale
• energized
• toughened
• recovering
• inured
• red-blooded
• vitalized
• invigorated
• convalescing
• recuperating

4

as in weakened

lacking strength of will or character

a frail person, easily swayed by others

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weak
• weakened
• soft
• meek
• timid
• corrupt
• wimpy
• nerveless
• spineless
• characterless
• effete
• wimpish
• weakling
• milk-and-water
• invertebrate
• wet
• weak-kneed
• flabby
• ineffectual
• limp-wristed
• powerless
• wishy-washy
• ineffective
• namby-pamby
• flaccid
• impotent
• infirm
• pliable
• forceless
• submissive
• craven
• unnerved
• lamblike
• irresolute
• emasculated
• unscrupulous
• villainous
• cowardly
• unprincipled
• pusillanimous
• dastardly
• sissy
• impuissant
• fainthearted
• nebbishy
• vacillating
• poltroon
• lily-livered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strong
• hard
• tough
• firm
• good
• moral
• virtuous
• right
• upright
• righteous
• ethical
• principled
• resolute
• backboned
• unrelenting
• determined
• courageous
• stalwart
• mettlesome
• stouthearted

5

as in small

small in degree

a frail hope of success

Synonyms & Similar Words

• small
• slim
• off
• fragile
• slight
• outside
• remote
• negligible
• marginal
• tiny
• minimal
• minor
• little

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• good
• large
• great
• significant
• distinct
• healthy
• substantial
• considerable
• respectable
• sizable
• goodly
• tidy
• largish

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective frail contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of frail are decrepit, feeble, fragile, infirm, and weak. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

When would decrepit be a good substitute for frail?

The words decrepit and frail can be used in similar contexts, but decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

When could feeble be used to replace frail?

While the synonyms feeble and frail are close in meaning, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

When can fragile be used instead of frail?

In some situations, the words fragile and frail are roughly equivalent. However, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

Where would infirm be a reasonable alternative to frail?

While in some cases nearly identical to frail, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

When is weak a more appropriate choice than frail?

The words weak and frail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of frail

But this poetic aspect of environmental protest—the image of a frail human risking her life for that of a mammoth tree—is something the forces of industry will always lack. —Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

When Dilma starts becoming frail, Gugu goes to great lengths to take care of her while keeping others from invading their space. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 24 Feb. 2026

Tushtu, the meekest, frailest of the chanters, trailing at the back, stopped to turn towards Charu with a sly grin. —Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026

Catherine number two marries frail cousin Linton, who dies, and later falls in love with the gruff, rough Hareton in a sort of history repeating itself thing. —Meg Walters, Glamour, 16 Feb. 2026