# fragile

/ˈfɹædʒəɫ/ (US) · /fɹˈædʒaɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fragile
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. easily broken

adjective · CEFR B1

easily broken or damaged because it is delicate.

For teachers: easily broken, shattered, or damaged; typically used of materials like glass or porcelain.

- 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.

### 2. weak or unstable

adjective · CEFR B2

not strong and likely to fail or change easily.

For teachers: vulnerable to disruption or collapse; used of abstract concepts like peace, health, or economies.

- 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.

### 3. feeling unwell

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

feeling weak or sick, especially after drinking too much alcohol or being ill.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. easily upset

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

easily hurt or annoyed by what other people say.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Be careful with those fragile glasses.
- The delivery driver marked the box as fragile to ensure the porcelain arrived in one piece.
- The diplomat worked tirelessly to maintain the fragile peace treaty, knowing that a single misunderstanding could reignite the long-standing conflict.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.