fragile
- 01 B1 Intermediate
easily broken or damaged because it is delicate.
easily broken, shattered, or damaged; typically used of materials like glass or porcelain.
Simple“Be careful with those wine glasses; they are very fragile.”
In context“The museum staff used specialized foam to pack the fragile Ming dynasty vases for their overseas journey.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
not strong and likely to fail or change easily.
vulnerable to disruption or collapse; used of abstract concepts like peace, health, or economies.
Simple“The peace between the two countries is still very fragile.”
In context“Economists warned that the recovery remained fragile, as consumer spending had not yet returned to pre-crisis levels.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
feeling weak or sick, especially after drinking too much alcohol or being ill.
physically or mentally vulnerable due to illness or exhaustion; frequently used to describe a hangover.
Simple“I'm feeling a bit fragile this morning after the party last night.”
In context“He looked remarkably fragile during the press conference, suggesting he had not yet fully recovered from the flu.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
easily hurt or annoyed by what other people say.
psychologically vulnerable or oversensitive to criticism.
Simple“You have to be careful what you say to him because his ego is quite fragile.”
In context“The director's fragile temperament made it difficult for the cast to offer any constructive feedback during rehearsals.”
“Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.”
“As the title makes clear, the set-up is fragile, the future uncertain, with government cuts hovering over both their lives.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.