1
as in delicate
easily broken
attaching the beautiful but fragile ornaments to the Christmas tree is always a touchy operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sensitive
easily injured without careful handling
babies are fragile, so remember to care for them gently
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3
as in small
small in degree
a fragile possibility that we might emerge from this fiasco unscathed
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1
as in exquisiteness
the state or quality of having a delicate structure
we marveled at the fragility and yet the surprising strength of the bird's wing bones
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2
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
the fragility of the abandoned baby bird
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fragile
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
The film recounts the struggle of local communities to protect a fragile and vital ecosystem that also serves as their ancestral home.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
So why shouldn’t Trump exploit that fragility to land a death blow against a murderous adversary?
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fragile
Adjective
And in 1972, Californians voted to create the state Coastal Commission, to protect the state’s fragile and finite coastal lands.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
The film recounts the struggle of local communities to protect a fragile and vital ecosystem that also serves as their ancestral home.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
In a domain as powerful and fast-moving as AI, narrowing influence increases systemic fragility.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
So why shouldn’t Trump exploit that fragility to land a death blow against a murderous adversary?
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fragile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fragile
Adjective
-
Let the delicate custard shine.—
Georgeanne Brennan,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Furthermore, the data gathered by the device could be used to train humanoid robots to perform delicate tasks, such as surgery or complex manufacturing, by mimicking human finesse.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This wasn’t surprising, given that intelligence agencies compartmentalize information about sensitive operations.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
It is well understood in the region that could mean things like broad targeting of sensitive and highly vulnerable energy installations, something Iran has already threatened, essential for the regional and global economies, as well as hard to quickly repair and rebuild.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of the district's smallest elementary schools now serve only a couple of hundred students, limiting available resources.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Higher bond yields ripple through all kinds of credit markets, making everything from mortgages to small-business loans more expensive.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If not treated early, the infection can progress to more serious symptoms, such as joint swelling and arthritis, nerve pain, tingling or numbness, facial muscle weakness, heart inflammation and difficulties with memory or concentration.—
Emily Bache,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
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To play for Hurley is to understand that taking a play off is not acceptable, that bending over and tugging at your short hems – a sure sign, in Hurley’s estimation, of weakness – will earn you either a death stare or a run up the steps.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hit hospital systems and ordinary life starts to feel brittle.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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Foote records as Leech, runs the great Peak Oil label, and is general manager of the storied Kranky, while Dickow has amassed a vast catalog of brittle yet voluptuous electronic music as Strategy.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
For all its public association with queerness, ballet remains largely committed to a frail, wispy femininity and a princely but muscular and explosive masculinity—with the stringent, often punishing body-shape standards to match.—
Chloe Angyal,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Part of what contributes to the slim odds is the fact that Morris is seeking to move the process forward using Christian arbitration, while Gateway wants to use a standard legal approach, Morris’ attorney Bill Mateja told the Star-Telegram last July.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Heat’s chances of avoiding the NBA’s play-in tournament are now very slim.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My matzo balls took twice as long to cook according to her fineness in the video.—
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
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The term plant texture refers to the fineness or coarseness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness of a particular plant.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fragile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fragile. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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