English Explanatory Dictionary

fragile

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Easily broken, not sturdy; of delicate material.
  2. Readily disrupted or destroyed.
  3. Feeling weak or easily disturbed as a result of illness.
  4. Thin-skinned or oversensitive.
noun
  1. Something that is fragile.

Pronunciation

/ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/ en-ca-fragile.ogg /ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/ En-us-fragile.ogg

Word forms

fragile fragiler more fragile fragilest most fragile fragiles

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate with fraction, fracture and doublet of frail.

Synonyms

breakable delicate destructible flimsy fragile frail frailsome frangible slim tenuous

Antonyms

antifragile durable indestructible unbreakable unfragile

Related words

fractal fraction fractional fracture fragility frail frailty frangible rickety vulnerable docile obstinate weak

Derived words

fragilely fragile masculinity fragileness fragile X syndrome fragilization fragilize hyperfragile nonfragile superfragile ultrafragile unfragile warmblood fragile foal syndrome
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