1
as in fragile
easily broken
a frail eggshell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 frail
Healthy aging and walking Whether or not an older adult is frail, mobility is still an important part of healthy aging.
—
Gina Park, CNN Money, 16 July 2025
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail and elderly people, as well as those with a weakened immune system.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 July 2025
While certain exceptions allow frail individuals and parents of dependent children a pass from these work requirements, the provisions are wide enough to impact millions of Americans.
—Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2025
Under the law, parents of children 13 years and younger and medically frail individuals are exempt from the work requirements.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Gina Park, CNN Money, 16 July 2025
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause severe and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail and elderly people, as well as those with a weakened immune system.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 July 2025
While certain exceptions allow frail individuals and parents of dependent children a pass from these work requirements, the provisions are wide enough to impact millions of Americans.
—Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2025
Under the law, parents of children 13 years and younger and medically frail individuals are exempt from the work requirements.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for frail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frail
Adjective
-
These species play a crucial role in maintaining balance within the fragile ecosystem.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
-
At the same time, Jota’s death has brought certain things into sharp context, about how fragile life — and within that, something like a football career — can be.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Short-term health risks, especially for sensitive populations, can include eyes, throat and nose irritation, asthma attacks, coughing and shortness of breath.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Aug. 2025
-
There’s another potential dynamic at play, too: Will humans be more willing to divulge more sensitive details to a machine than another human?—
Gina Chua,
semafor.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
And if tariffs only cause a one-time jump in prices, weaker purchasing power could slow the economy.—
Raul Elizalde,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The airline cited weak travel demand and financial challenges.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Going directly from cooking inside the house and only trying my own food to trying small restaurants and traveling within a week’s span was a blessing.—
Kenneth J. Williams Jr,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
On a sunny morning in late June, his exercise regimen began with small steps: His right foot keeping pace with the treadmill, his left foot stationary, off to the side.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Her entire front body is exposed and her natural breasts are round, perky; her pink areolas, small; her pink nipples, delicate, conical.—
Weike Wang,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
-
While the Great Lakes may seem to offer an endless supply of water, the balance is actually quite delicate.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
While the bats themselves are feeble foes, the rabies virus is a brutal beast.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
13 Aug. 2025
-
But the animal would also be pretty feeble at this stage — if this happened in a very short period of time, the muscle growth wouldn't be able to keep up with the expansion of the exoskeleton.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Its breathable, soft nature allows Savin to sink in without feeling stuck.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
25 Aug. 2025
-
In the seventh, rookie catcher Agustín Ramírez added insurance with a soft RBI single to center, scoring Marsee and pushing the lead to 5-3.—
Isaac Azout,
Miami Herald,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In a video, Infiniti teased the low-slung vehicle, revealing a swoopy profile, slim headlights, and circular taillights reminiscent of the Skyline.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Officials had warned earlier in the week that the region’s Highway 12 – the slim, scenic stretch of road connecting the barrier islands – could become completely inaccessible.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frail. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share