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 Both are topped with white chocolate, gold sugar crystal brittle. Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025 Rounding out the mourning quartet is their sister Anne (Emily Fairn), physically sickly, emotionally brittle and unequivocally devout. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025 The wood of sequoias is considered brittle, and few logs made it to the mill. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025 But the President is surrounded by a more sycophantic set this time around, and seems more brittle in the face of dissent. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brittle
Adjective
  • Monken’s ideal practice is a crisp 90 minutes, but some might stretch to two hours.
    Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • His answers were short and crisp.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The icy landscape of the Arctic has transformed much faster than expected, as humans burn fossil fuels and heat the planet.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The probe, which launched in 1997, spent years studying Saturn's icy moons before it was deliberately plunged into Saturn in 2017, ending its mission.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Baking the cake unmixed creates a deliciously gooey cake that is crumbly and buttery on top.
    Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike the crumbly texture of an Oreo (from which the Exploremores take clear inspiration), the first bite delivered a pleasingly soft and slightly chewy texture, along with a subtle hint of marshmallow.
    Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Warm water lifts grime better and helps deep clean better than cold.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Zinc perchlorate remains primarily in the liquid to control the ion movement and improve the battery’s freeze resistance for cold-weather performance.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Netanyahu, meanwhile, stands accused of having repeatedly turned down earlier deals with Hamas to appease extreme elements within his fragile coalition government.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • With new tariffs, shifting brand strategies and a fragile financial system, the stakes could not be higher for Bangladesh in 2025.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Strickland is acutely aware of how she's been swept up in the investigation — and the ongoing online chatter about the case — because of their fight the night that Trussell walked, alone, into the frigid darkness and then died.
    Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The frigid temperatures are expected overnight on Wednesday into Thursday morning.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • While the average cruise length is around seven days, short sailings can pack an entire vacation’s worth of fun into a mid-week getaway or long weekend.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Ross is also taller, giving officers more viewing coverage above crowds than Walking Horses, which can be as short as 14 hands, or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This tan cardigan is lightweight enough for transitional weather but still provides just the right amount of warmth for chilly flights.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
  • These range from cropped flannel hoodies that place style over substance to longer versions that offer greater protection in chilly weather.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brittle. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on brittle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!