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 The brittle, eco-friendly bamboo straw is another concession to the community, as are the splinters. Joe Joyce, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025 Deficiency symptoms may include thinning hair, skin rashes, or brittle nails. Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025 That leaves it friendless, brittle, and uncreative—and, paradoxically, that leaves it vulnerable when fighting, too. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025 Noah Baumbach’s painfully incisive portrait of a family divorce among a remarkably prickly family of Brooklyn intellectuals finds so many ways to showcase its characters’ most brittle sides. Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brittle
Adjective
  • In order to combat a chilly plane ride, a warm airport, and the crisp fall air upon arrival, light layers are essential.
    Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
  • While not abandoning core design DNA—crisp, modern tailoring, languid sensuality, and oodles of good taste to wit—the brand delivered a collection that felt like a breath of fresh air.
    Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And these cars tend to be driven in fair weather, not on icy roads.
    Josh Max, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Just last year, scientists announced the news that New Horizons found the Kuiper Belt—a vast outer zone of hundreds of thousands of small, icy worlds beyond the orbit of Neptune—might extend much farther out than previously thought.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Chunks of Wagyu beef short rib served with smoky awaze sauce and a crumbly cheese called ayib speak to the city’s Ethiopian community, the largest in America.
    The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The drink features cold brew coffee, oat milk, and pumpkin pie syrup topped with cold foam, caramel sauce, and a crumbly graham cracker topping.
    Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The fair also will feature two stages of music, an entertainment dome, mouthwatering festival food and plenty of cold beer.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
  • In a study, the team describes how cooling a gas of radioactive atoms to temperatures colder than deep space could synchronize their radioactive decay.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The institutions of the new democracy were fragile, and the military still wielded enough influence to block meaningful accountability.
    Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The gown has since become too fragile to showcase and doesn’t leave the museum.
    Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The frigid air sliced through the open windows, bit the tips of my ears and my runny nose.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Katie Abraham and Chloe Polzin were hunting for a late-night snack with three other friends on a frigid night in Urbana, Illinois.
    Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Such a short distance is considered well within reach of a basic marksman.
    Will Carless, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In short, The Paper doesn’t quite escape the shadow of its big brother, but that’s just fine with us.
    Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In order to combat a chilly plane ride, a warm airport, and the crisp fall air upon arrival, light layers are essential.
    Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The blazer is also lined, which comes in handy on chilly evenings.
    Izzy Baskette, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brittle. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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