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Synonym Chooser

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 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 delicate Much of his delicate porcelain features seaglass tones and intricate, cutout designs. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025 Ford’s pump has long been a staple in evening lineups, but the penny-strap detail keeps its proportions strict rather than delicate. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025 Sharing some of the personal things is a delicate balance sometimes. H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 Udoka will have to strike a delicate balance between leaning into the physical mismatches his team can create versus putting lineups on the floor that will generate efficient offense. William Guillory, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for delicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delicate
Adjective
  • His celebration was subtle yet suave, a drop of his bat with a flick of his wrist.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • This is clearly a quick screen and may not pick up more subtle issues.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Organizations are increasingly relying on AI to handle the initial assessment load, especially in high-volume or compliance-sensitive hiring scenarios.
    Aaron Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Kirk Baxter’s arrhythmic cutting is designed around quicksilver shifts that, along with Barry Ackroyd’s restlessly attentive, mostly handheld camerawork, allow Bigelow to redirect our attention with virtuoso command.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The institutions of the new democracy were fragile, and the military still wielded enough influence to block meaningful accountability.
    Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The gown has since become too fragile to showcase and doesn’t leave the museum.
    Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But Eliasen is careful not to let scope creep derail initial implementations.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Rows and rows of spacious houses with yards, everything new, tidy as can be imagined, with elegant transportation to and from the workplace right there—all for working people.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Posing next to Colman Domingo and Salma Hayek Pinault (who wore an elegant black Balenciaga suit dress), Moore’s glitzy look shone.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Giving Wickham a nice holiday tan would be a bridge too far for the genteel world of Jane Austen.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Some decisions are prudent, such as the Las Vegas Raiders to defeat the New England Patriots at a nice underdog price.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Delicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delicate. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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