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 delicateBut the finishing touch that really sealed the deal was a delicate black east-west bag that added the right amount of sophistication without overpowering her outfit.—
Vivien Lee,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2026 For damaged or fragile hair, Velcro rollers avoid direct heat but can snag delicate strands, while hot rollers call for careful temperature control and heat protection.—
Ashley Lynch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Oct. 2026 French bob fans will recognize the jaw-skimming silhouette that removes excess weight and adds bounce, especially when paired with a delicate fringe.—
Ashley Lynch,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2026 Given the president’s delicate psyche, Maher knew anything short of absolute praise would be perceived as an insult.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delicate
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.
Where Thomas is aloof and proud, Erika is prickly and sardonic, excellent tools for protecting a surprisingly fragile heart.
—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Oct. 2026
My childhood school in Denmark hadn’t been turned to rubble but into an emotional battlefield, a psychological groundhog’s day of explosive arguments, violent brawls—and brief, fragile truces that always shattered when the home bell rung.
Along with potentially leeching microplastics into your food, plastic food storage containers absorb stains, odors, and flavors, and many require careful hand-washing to prevent them from warping.
—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2026
Gallery visitors were careful not to step on the sprawling assemblage of photographs, drawings and artifacts scattered across the floor.
Naval engineers built elegant streets lined with glass balconies that became the envy of northwestern Spain, and more than a century later, Spain’s future dictator, Francisco Franco, the son of a naval officer, was born there.
—
Jason Horowitz,
New York Times,
28 Oct. 2026
Lié Studio The Eva Weekend tote $870 This sleek bag is the leather tote at its most elegant—roomy enough to hold travel essentials and crafted in luxurious Portuguese leather.
The age-old advice of keeping your passwords secure and being wary of suspicious emails is more important than ever as hackers gain more sophisticated tools and use AI to find more of the internet’s weak points.
—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2026
Analysts expect profits and assets to cover the dividend through weaker timber periods.
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