adjective

fragile

FRAD-zhyl

adjective

Easily broken or damaged; delicate.

"The box was marked "fragile" because it held glassware."

"Old parchment becomes fragile and can crumble if handled roughly."

Easily upset, weakened, or thrown off balance — describing health, emotions, or a situation.

"The ceasefire remains fragile and could collapse at any moment."

"She felt fragile for weeks after the surgery."

How to Use Fragile

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEasy to break, whether physically (like glass) or in a more abstract sense (like a peace deal or someone's confidence).

Common mistake

Fragile usually describes an object or situation; frail usually describes a person's physical health.

Easily confused with

frail →

Common pairings

fragile ecosystem fragile peace handle with care, fragile

fragiler comparative, more fragile comparative, fragiles plural, fragilest superlative, most fragile superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The box was marked "_____" because it held glassware.

From Latin fragilis, from frangere ("to break") — a doublet of "frail."

breakable delicate destructible flimsy frail frangible frailsome slim tenuous

antifragile durable indestructible unbreakable unfragile

thin small girl slim weak subtle delicate tenuous

file mile tile pile wile vile rile Nile bile Chile smile while

breakable delicate destructible flimsy frail frangible frailsome slim tenuous antifragile durable indestructible