requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the delicate challenge of inviting two people who don't like each other to the same party
How is the word delicate different from other adjectives like it?
Some common synonyms of delicate are choice, dainty, elegant, exquisite, and rare. While all these words mean "having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste," delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.
delicate craftsmanship
Where would choice be a reasonable alternative to delicate?
The words choice and delicate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.
choice fabric
In what contexts can dainty take the place of delicate?
While the synonyms dainty and delicate are close in meaning, dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.
dainty sandwiches
When can elegant be used instead of delicate?
Although the words elegant and delicate have much in common, elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.
a sumptuous but elegant dining room
When is it sensible to use exquisite instead of delicate?
The synonyms exquisite and delicate are sometimes interchangeable, but exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.
an exquisite gold bracelet
When could rare be used to replace delicate?
The meanings of rare and delicate largely overlap; however, rare suggests an uncommon excellence.
rare beauty
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of delicateThe demonstrations highlight the O30’s ability to perform delicate object handling and rapid, coordinated finger movements, showcasing the fine motor control needed for more complex human-like manipulation tasks.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Oct. 2026 Think of it as a tenderizer, making the final sauce soft and delicate.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Oct. 2026 Alcaraz defused the threat with a delicate drop shot before taking the set with a commanding tiebreak.—ABC News,
4 Oct. 2026 With its delicate foot strap and timeless appeal, the shoe style has always been loved for its versatility.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delicate
Poindexter featured his three daughters in his first campaign advertisement for the general election, taking a subtle dig at Miller.
—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Oct. 2026
Later still, we are introduced to Satoko Iijima (Ishida), who again shares many defining features with her two namesakes, albeit with just enough subtle differences to keep the audience on the back foot.
Over the past decade, cyberattacks against the education sector have risen expeditiously, exposing sensitive data, temporarily disrupting school operations and affecting students' learning.
—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2026
Deisseroth, a Stanford professor, helped adapt a light-sensitive protein discovered by Hegemann and Nagel into a way to control nerve cells in living mice.
Every day, the virtuoso violinist plays for an audience of travelers, with his stage in the pedestrian tunnel that links the CTA and parking garages to the terminals.
—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
8 Oct. 2026
Through 107 career games, Minten’s profile has leaned more toward dependable cello player than virtuoso first violinist.
Democratic congressional candidates will also need to be careful about balancing partisan messages to their base with more measured appeals to independent voters.
—
Julio Borquez,
The Conversation,
8 Oct. 2026
But perhaps the biggest challenge of all was being extremely careful not to pass moral judgment on the story or any of the characters being portrayed.
The elegant and spacious suites feature terraces with sun loungers and panoramic ocean views.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Oct. 2026
Working with the local firm Dvira Interiors, the owners turned the 12,000-square-foot residence into an elegant home that takes advantage of refined touches like ornate decorative moldings and brushed bronze and satin gold fixtures.
The woman and her children lived in the nice part of the house and the foster girls — three to five at a time — ate dinner separately in the basement.
—
Joseph Shapiro,
NPR,
3 Oct. 2026
In an era where millions of recipes are made for content consumption as much as actual consumption, traveling back in time for someone’s beloved 1970 banana bread recipe sounds pretty nice.
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