1
as in fragile
easily broken
a frail eggshell
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sensitive
easily injured without careful handling
be careful with your grandmother, as she's very frail and a fall would be disastrous
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3
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
he was frail after a long battle with bronchitis
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4
as in weakened
lacking strength of will or character
a frail person, easily swayed by others
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5
as in small
small in degree
a frail hope of success
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frail
With this, Trump is offering Putin a frail fig leaf of respectability.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
The frail Francis had celebrated Easter with public words to his faithful flock and a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
And about one-quarter of all Medicaid benefits, more than $200 billion, goes to long-term care for about 9 million frail older adults and people with disabilities.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
In a three-year study of nearly 25,000 women ages 65 to 79, for example, those who consumed about 50 percent more protein than the federal recommendation were less frail than those who consumed less.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
The frail Francis had celebrated Easter with public words to his faithful flock and a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
And about one-quarter of all Medicaid benefits, more than $200 billion, goes to long-term care for about 9 million frail older adults and people with disabilities.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
In a three-year study of nearly 25,000 women ages 65 to 79, for example, those who consumed about 50 percent more protein than the federal recommendation were less frail than those who consumed less.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frail
Adjective
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Fiber optic cable, in my opinion, is more fragile than traditional solid-copper coaxial cable.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
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Even in the best of times, long-term observations can be very fragile.—
Eric Morgan,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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The Trump administration – with Musk and his aides as the tip of the spear – have roiled the federal government with mass layoffs and demands for access to sensitive information at agencies including the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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With uneasiness surrounding reports of electronic searches during border crossings, some travelers have opted to use burner phones—rather than bring their personal phones with them—to protect sensitive information.—
Iona Brannon,
AFAR Media,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2025
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Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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The Court of International Trade previously rejected the small businesses' request to temporarily pause the tariffs while their lawsuit went forward, but then quickly scheduled Tuesday’s court hearing to decide whether to rule against the tariffs or impose a longer-term pause.—
Dietrich Knauth,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Instead, Atkinson took up golf for the first time and renewed his connection to scientific research, not the least of which was how a small white ball repeatedly avoids a hole in the ground.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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This transformation requires a delicate balancing act.—
Miles Ward,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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The walls of the rectum (the inside of your butt) are delicate.—
Alexander Cheves,
Them.,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Rather than attempt a feeble defense of himself, Nick attacks June for the same willful ignorance her mother accused her of in Alaska.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
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During a question-and-answer session, shareholders grumbled about everything from the falling share price and feeble dividend of 6 euros versus 14 euros in 2023 to the complicated WiFi login process and historic lack of shareholder gifts.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some risk factors for babies include sleeping on their side or stomach, sharing a bed with a parent or caregiver, using soft bedding or bumper pads and sleeping on an incline.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Their romance proceeds in soft focus with a soundtrack of accelerated heartbeats and musical interludes, as well as pretty camera shots of raindrops flashing in the sun.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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German filmmaker Petzold comes to Cannes for the first time with a minor-key new drama, which burrows into the psyche despite its slim running time and almost perverse refusal to explain itself or the shapes its narrative takes.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
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The slim Apple iPhone is said to sport a single camera in a Nexus 6P-like camera module.—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frail. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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