1
as in fragile
easily broken
a frail eggshell
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in small
small in degree
a frail hope of success
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frail
Under a cowboy hat and a long poncho, Weir looked visibly frail on stage.
—
Paul Liberatore, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Birdie is physically frail, emotionally fragile, too chatty — the epitome of her name.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
The culminating episode, as the mob smashes and ransacks a hospital and terrorizes its patients, ultimately reveals a frail elderly man, standing naked and alone in an empty bathtub as the assailants approach.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
With elderly patients, particularly those who are cognitively impaired and frail, that can be challenging.
—Neil Gaffin, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Paul Liberatore, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Birdie is physically frail, emotionally fragile, too chatty — the epitome of her name.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
The culminating episode, as the mob smashes and ransacks a hospital and terrorizes its patients, ultimately reveals a frail elderly man, standing naked and alone in an empty bathtub as the assailants approach.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
With elderly patients, particularly those who are cognitively impaired and frail, that can be challenging.
—Neil Gaffin, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frail
Adjective
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Treading a fine line in Venezuela’s power struggle The amnesty push comes against the backdrop of Venezuela’s fragile post-Maduro landscape, with the acting government under Rodríguez navigating US pressure, economic challenges and calls for stability.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Last year, thanks to a Prebys Healing Through the Arts grant, Resounding Joy brought music to 50 participants in Mama’s Kitchen’s senior nutrition program, which delivers free meals to homebound medically fragile seniors in need.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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His sloped shoulders suggested bodily power that was sleepy and sly; his large head and dark, badly cut hair amplified the weight and solidity of him, but his lips were sensitive and a little slack, as if yearning for something he’d been long deprived of.—
Mary Gaitskill,
New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2026
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Derived from eucalyptus wood, the material is gentle on sensitive skin, manages moisture, and has a silky, luxe texture.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The past four years of conflict have exposed more than one faulty assumption, not least the previously widespread belief even among Kyiv’s allies that Ukraine would be too weak, too disorganized, to resist a full-scale invasion.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Continue reading … PARTY RECKONING — Cortez Masto admits Democrats have been 'weak on immigration,' chides Biden.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The illness can be dangerous or life-threatening, particularly to older adults, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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Traffic pressure collapses the weakened pavement, forming a pothole.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the proposal would only actually impact a small few — billionaires.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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The first call for help was a silent text message from an emergency beacon, mobilizing a small army of rescuers dispatched from different directions.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Each of the time zones Pascal Soriot operates in has offered vivid reminders of the delicate balancing act global business leaders must perform as the world economy transforms around them.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Obama wore her delicate braids in a high ponytail, showcasing a pair of large diamond studs, while her makeup consisted of a smoky eye, pops of coral blush, and a glossy lip.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When approached, such a goose might have made a feeble attempt to escape.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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His inability to recognize the oxymoron makes Cole’s introspection on this topic feel less like a genuine reckoning and more like a feeble attempt at bleaching out the darkest stains of his career.—
Benny Sun,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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They were headed home when the fresh snow, light and soft, suddenly descended from the slopes as one of the most ferocious forces of nature.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Your next best friend Weebles is the ultimate low-maintenance companion looking for a soft place to land in 2026!—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frail. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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