Word
fragile
Phoneticsfrag·ile, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɹædʒəɫ/
UK/fɹˈædʒaɪl/
Definitions
01easily broken
B1 · Intermediate
adj. easily broken or damaged because it is delicate.
adj. easily broken, shattered, or damaged; typically used of materials like glass or porcelain.
日本語:もろい※
Español:frágil
“Be careful with those wine glasses; they are very fragile.”
“The museum staff used specialized foam to pack the fragile Ming dynasty vases for their overseas journey.”
02weak or unstable
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not strong and likely to fail or change easily.
adj. vulnerable to disruption or collapse; used of abstract concepts like peace, health, or economies.
日本語:脆弱※
“The peace between the two countries is still very fragile.”
“Economists warned that the recovery remained fragile, as consumer spending had not yet returned to pre-crisis levels.”
Synonyms
03feeling unwell
C1 · Advanced British English · Informal
adj. feeling weak or sick, especially after drinking too much alcohol or being ill.
adj. physically or mentally vulnerable due to illness or exhaustion; frequently used to describe a hangover.
“I'm feeling a bit fragile this morning after the party last night.”
“He looked remarkably fragile during the press conference, suggesting he had not yet fully recovered from the flu.”
04easily upset
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. easily hurt or annoyed by what other people say.
adj. psychologically vulnerable or oversensitive to criticism.
“You have to be careful what you say to him because his ego is quite fragile.”
“The director's fragile temperament made it difficult for the cast to offer any constructive feedback during rehearsals.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fragile” in context.
Verb
01. expose a fragile economy
“The sudden rise in oil prices exposed a fragile economy that was overly dependent on imports.”
verb + adj + noun
02. handle the fragile vase
“Please handle the fragile vase with care; it has been in our family for three generations.”
verb + adj + noun
03. remain fragile
“Consumer confidence remains fragile despite the recent improvements in the stock market.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. extremely fragile
“The peace treaty remains extremely fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations.”
adv + adj
05. fragile ego
“He has such a fragile ego that he cannot handle even the slightest bit of constructive criticism.”
adj + noun
06. fragile state of health
“Given his fragile state of health, the doctors advised against any international travel.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. fragile nature of life
“The recent tragedy served as a somber reminder of the fragile nature of life.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“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.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/fragile
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0