BRITTLE Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'brittle' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of brittle are crisp , fragile , frangible , and friable . While all these words mean "breaking easily," brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness. // brittle bones

Q: When could 'crisp' be used to replace 'brittle'?

The synonyms crisp and brittle are sometimes interchangeable, but crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods. // crisp lettuce

Q: In what contexts can 'fragile' take the place of 'brittle'?

The meanings of fragile and brittle largely overlap; however, fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling. // a fragile antique chair

Q: When would 'frangible' be a good substitute for 'brittle'?

While the synonyms frangible and brittle are close in meaning, frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy. // frangible stone used for paving

Q: When might 'friable' be a better fit than 'brittle'?

In some situations, the words friable and brittle are roughly equivalent. However, friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized. // friable soil

brittle

adjective

ˈbri-tᵊl

Definition of brittle

as in crisp

having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure a brittle cracker that turned into crumbs in my pocket

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in icy

lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling a brittle apology that was anything but heartfelt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective brittle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of brittle are crisp, fragile, frangible, and friable. While all these words mean "breaking easily," brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

When could crisp be used to replace brittle?

The synonyms crisp and brittle are sometimes interchangeable, but crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

In what contexts can fragile take the place of brittle?

The meanings of fragile and brittle largely overlap; however, fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

When would frangible be a good substitute for brittle?

While the synonyms frangible and brittle are close in meaning, frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

When might friable be a better fit than brittle?

In some situations, the words friable and brittle are roughly equivalent. However, friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of brittle That converts execution from brittle screen-scraping into a clean engineering problem. — Oleg Nesterov, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Ever Pure Thickening Sulfate-Free Shampoo is for everyone, but especially for those who would describe their hair as thin, brittle, weak, prone to breakage, and slow to grow. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026 That air of discontent is ramped up when Ray’s two sisters descend on the house for a brittle family reunion. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Leaving them in too long means brittle texture and lost flavor. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brittle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brittle

Adjective

That apprehension was reflected in the mood of voters in Moscow on a cold, crisp September day a week before the elections.

— Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
Return the baking dish to the oven and cook the chicken until the liquid is nicely reduced and the skins are crisp and golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes longer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of crisp

Adjective

Mayor Karen Bass and billionaire developer Rick Caruso appeared together at a groundbreaking for the new Palisades Recreation Center on Tuesday, in a sign that the sometimes icy relationship between the two 2022 mayoral rivals is thawing.

— Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Indeed, the polar opposite of both Number One’s icy demeanor and Chapel’s long-suffering yearning, Majel is remembered by friends and colleagues as a boisterous, brassy, take-no-prisoners presence.

— Scott Huver, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of icy

Adjective

The plant clips feature high-quality waterproof plastic that’s durable but gentle on fragile stems.

— Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2026
As China’s Xi Jinping heads to Washington this week for high-stakes talks, the war in the Mideast and fragile shipping routes keep markets on edge, with analysts warning oil could still soar higher.

— Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of fragile

Adjective

Bronwyn’s mother, Muzzy, who was lambasted all of last season for being cold and arguably cruel to her daughter, is notably softer in her first scene back — though the bob is as cunty as ever.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
At Fuerte Guaicaipuro, a military facility, investigators documented detainees being confined in pit-like cells dug below ground level and subjected to cold, food deprivation and other degrading treatment.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of cold

Adjective

For the first few days, they were held in a room crammed with up to 80 men, with just a handful of open toilets, in frigid conditions and with only a thin towel to sleep under, before being moved to two-person cells.

— Hanna Park, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
The frigid temperatures, ice, and snow will all wear down the components faster than if the unit is stored inside during the cold months.

— Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of frigid

Adjective

The soil is peat dark, friable, and gravid with potatoes, onions, sugar beet, lettuce, maize, and wheat that moves in dry, whispering sheets.

— Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
The second bottle, with confetti-ish contents, was equally useless—whatever had been inside had broken down into a friable mess.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026

Definition of friable

Adjective

This jacket is constructed from a heavyweight cotton, providing an extra layer that keeps you cozy on chilly fall days.

— Jessie Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
This classic crewneck transitions effortlessly from day to night and is light enough to toss into your purse to keep on hand for chilly museum visits or cooler evenings.

— Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of chilly

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britches

brittle

brittleness

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“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brittle. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of brittle

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