Synonyms of friable

friable

adjective

ˈfrī-ə-bəl 

as in brittle

having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure

sand dollars are friable, so handle them carefully

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brittle
• crisp
• crumbly
• crisped
• fragile
• flaky
• short
• crispy
• delicate
• brickle
• embrittled
• crusty
• crunchy
• crackly
• breakable
• crispened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexible
• elastic
• resilient
• pliable
• pliant
• strong
• sturdy
• tough

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective friable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of friable are brittle, crisp, fragile, and frangible. While all these words mean "breaking easily," friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

When is it sensible to use brittle instead of friable?

The words brittle and friable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

Where would crisp be a reasonable alternative to friable?

The meanings of crisp and friable largely overlap; however, crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

When is fragile a more appropriate choice than friable?

The synonyms fragile and friable are sometimes interchangeable, but fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

When can frangible be used instead of friable?

While the synonyms frangible and friable are close in meaning, frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of friable

Those unregulated hazardous substances include liquid waste, friable, asbestos wastes and combustion wastes. — Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025

Texture comes into play here, as well, with wispy nests of friable katayifi topping each scallop. — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025

The soils are mainly Galestro, a type of very friable clay-schist composed of clay-limestone and sandy loam. — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

One of the biggest hazards after a fire is friable material, so an Ashbritt personnel keeps the debris wet at all times. — Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025

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