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
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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
Many in the audience were surprised by the President’s apparent diminishment, his quiet and frail presentation, his inability to develop a strong, convincing sales pitch.
—
Jake Tapper, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
The actor, to whom the film is dedicated, returns for one brief scene, looking very frail and obviously ill.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
In rare cases, salmonella can result in more serious illness and can be fatal in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 4 May 2025
In fashion, the sidelining of powerful supermodels who demanded to be paid their worth (Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista) in favor of frail, passive, American Apparel-esque teenagers.
—Maya Salam, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Jake Tapper, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
The actor, to whom the film is dedicated, returns for one brief scene, looking very frail and obviously ill.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
In rare cases, salmonella can result in more serious illness and can be fatal in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 4 May 2025
In fashion, the sidelining of powerful supermodels who demanded to be paid their worth (Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista) in favor of frail, passive, American Apparel-esque teenagers.
—Maya Salam, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frail
Adjective
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However, removing them can undermine employee engagement, especially in hybrid or rapidly changing environments with fragile personal connections.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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As the conflict between Israel and Iran rests on a fragile ceasefire, Rajebi and other Iranian Americans told USA TODAY about dismay at American involvement and fear for loved ones still in Iran, saying a resurgence in violence could ripple around the world.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, privacy, data security and intellectual property concerns must be addressed when handling sensitive or unpublished research material.—
Beth Worthy,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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With the hot and humid conditions, ozone levels will become unhealthy for sensitive groups (people with lung disease, young children, older adults, etc.).—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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And while the unemployment rate remains low, hiring has been weak, leaving those without jobs struggling to find new work.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
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Total textile and apparel exports declined from $44.4 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $35.8 billion in fiscal year 2024 (ending March 31), due to weak global demand and elevated production costs.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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The small core teams who operate them are usually experts in biodiversity and community engagement, but not marketing.—
Michelle Greenwald,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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These small transactions often lead to bigger, more damaging fraud if ignored.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Birthday party etiquette can be a delicate balance.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
21 June 2025
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If regular Jenga is like performing delicate surgery, this extra large version from a different company is like performing a dangerous game of minesweeper.—
Parker Hall,
Wired News,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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Whether the result of drugs, alcohol or general hysteria, these terrifying men would enter trance-like states and charge into battle, ignoring severe injuries and collapsing into a feeble heap immediately after the fight concluded.—
Drew Gerber,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Two hotels in the East Bay have tumbled into bankruptcy ahead of scheduled foreclosures, in a fresh sign that post-coronavirus maladies still afflict the feeble lodging markets in the Bay Area.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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That includes things like mapping the profiles of people who could make future leaders, prioritizing growth opportunities for them, and focusing on cultivating softer people skills among this group, along with technical expertise.—
Brit Morse,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
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While investors are hoping for a soft landing in the U.S. economy, how severe might the outcome be if another recession occurs?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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That first leg ended 1-0 — a slim aggregate lead — and in the second leg back on Kiwi soil, the Australians won 2-0 with one of their goals a cruel deflection.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
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The body, jointly made up of government ministries and civil society organizations, approved the resolution by a slim majority in December.—
Eléonore Hughes,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frail. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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