adj

brittle

BRIH-tuhl

adj

Hard but easily broken, snapped, or shattered.

"The old parchment had become brittle with age."

"Dry autumn leaves are brittle underfoot."

Emotionally fragile; easily hurt or upset.

"His confidence seemed brittle after the failed interview."

noun

A hard candy made from caramelized sugar and nuts.

"She made a batch of peanut brittle for the holidays."

How to Use Brittle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEasily broken or snapped — used for physical materials, and figuratively for emotional fragility.

Common pairings

brittle bones brittle nails peanut brittle brittle confidence

Word Forms

brittler comparative, more brittle comparative, brittled past tense, brittles plural, Brittles plural, brittles singular, brittlest superlative, most brittle superlative

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The old parchment had become _____ with age.

Etymology

From Old English roots meaning "prone to break" — related to the word "brit," an old verb meaning to break into pieces.

Rhymes for brittle

little whittle spittle belittle Doolittle

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