Definition of brittlenext

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 However, the brittle plastic breaks easily and is less durable than other trays. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026 Another option is to treat the recent analysis as technical confirmation that the current system is brittle and inequitable, and use that to argue for a deeper change. David Sathuluri, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Tess, meanwhile, suggests a more vulnerable reality behind that brittle exterior—a faith that talent and perseverance can pay off, a desire for agency amid dispiriting circumstances. Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Los Angeles has ordered the retrofit of brick buildings, wooden apartments and brittle concrete buildings, but hasn’t required inspections of possibly vulnerable steel skyscrapers. Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brittle
Adjective
  • Off a throw-in in the Ecuador half, Germany made a few crisp passes into the middle of the field, until the ball ended up at Leroy Sané’s feet just inside the box.
    Tim Rohan, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • These wireless headphones deliver crisp, clear audio but feature a lightweight design that is comfortable enough to wear all day.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Their journey spans icy fjords, Byzantine intrigue, and the fabled Silk Road, blending Viking grit with ancient Chinese wisdom, unexpected alliances, and a touch of magic.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 June 2026
  • Through icy landscapes, courage and friendship are tested – and the children discover that the true magic of Christmas comes from togetherness.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • The system has long been mired in controversy, including exam paper leaks and technical failures, placing a crushing burden on students, and financial strain on families investing everything in their children for a promise that can often appear fragile.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • However, price bulls highlight a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and past IEA surplus forecasts that failed to depress prices.
    Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • To prevent that, some operators maintain low oil flow rates, akin to dripping a faucet in freezing cold weather to avoid frozen pipes.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • Aging And The Long Game Of Leadership The conversation around aging often centers on biohackers seeking to lower their biological age through cold plunges, red light therapy, and peptides.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • Banana peels break down into a rich, crumbly compost packed with potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium that roses love.
    Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 20 June 2026
  • Tasters declared the texture crumbly not creamy.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • That frigid January night, as police spent hours picking up pieces of her teeth and face off of the highway, there was no clear path forward in sight.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Snow, wind and frigid temperatures could combine to increase demand beyond what the state’s utilities can supply.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • However, the fragile and friable nature of aged amber likely posed a significant challenge to its removal.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Monochrome Fit Summer weather can be unpredictable, with chilly mornings and blistering hot afternoons.
    Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026
  • Lopez has stepped out in Paris twice wearing a similar go-to uniform, including a breezy, lightweight outer layer that is ideal for chilly summer nights or rainy afternoons.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brittle. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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