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 Instead, all eyes were on whether U.S. President Donald Trump would make the journey across the Atlantic, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East under Iranian fire and whether the brittle ceasefire between Iran and Israel would hold. Ellie Cook — Reporting From The Hague, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025 Those brittle columns or the failure of a slab-beam-column joint in the southeast part of the tower, close to the pool deck, could have been the cause of the collapse. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 24 June 2025 Some are also spiked with nourishing ingredients like conditioning glycerin and shine-enhancing antioxidants to target brittle texture, lackluster finishes, and itchiness. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 18 June 2025 Too often, however, the systems behind it are brittle—swelling during periods of hypergrowth and collapsing under the weight of a downturn. Kehinde Fawumi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for brittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brittle
Adjective
  • Alba paired the dress with a set of crisp white sneakers and carried a small white bag to coordinate with her footwear.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
  • Her finishing technique is crisp and clean, while her line-breaking passes are well-timed and weighted.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Stock tip: Migrate to icier territories… Aston Villa 6/1 Last five results: WLWWW A two-goal deficit to overcome in the Champions League quarter-final return leg against Paris Saint-Germain next week likely spells the end of Villa’s European aspirations.
    Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The relationship between Ye and Cole has been icy for some time.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Add melted butter and vanilla; stir until a crumbly mixture forms.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
  • Consider the saucy, crumbly meals that will be shared on its surface as well.
    Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Strategic commenting can lead to five-figure contracts without cold pitching.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Yeti’s game-changing double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • In the span of a week, the U.S. shifted from the brink of global conflict to a fragile ceasefire.
    Sharyl Attkisson, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2025
  • This admission comes amid escalating tensions and a fragile ceasefire following deadly clashes between Iran and Israel.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The boat capsized just before 3 p.m., tossing all ten occupants into the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2025
  • Preservation tools and techniques Surviving the area’s elements, particularly the long and frigid winters, is easier said than done, though.
    Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • For short or light exercise, plain water is usually the best choice.75 Many people use Gatorade to hydrate after being sick.
    Lindsey DeSoto, Health, 1 July 2025
  • To prove their point that filmmaking is an outstanding creative process, and can be done with no money, the sisters shot their first ever short film in a hot air balloon, 2000 meters up in the air.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • While the rail cars can get pretty chilly, the train station is usually sweltering—that’s where this Spanx set comes in.
    Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 25 June 2025
  • Outside, there’s a covered limestone dining terrace with overhead heat lamps for taking the nip off chilly nights and a lounge area for watching TV.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brittle. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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