Word
fragile
Meanings
Easily broken or damaged; delicate.
Easily upset, harmed, or made unstable; not strong or secure.
Definition
Easily broken or damaged, or easily upset by stress or pressure.
Something fragile can break, crack, or be harmed with very little force. The word can also describe situations, relationships, or systems that are easily disturbed or can quickly become unstable. It often implies a need for careful handling and gentle treatment.
Examples
- I packed the fragile vase in several layers of bubble wrap before the move.
- You need to handle that fragile equipment carefully if you want it to last.
- He sounded confident, but his mood was fragile after the criticism.
- Her team knew the fragile agreement could collapse if either side pushed too hard.
- They refused to rush the discussion because trust was still fragile.
Common mistake
Learners often use "fragile" for people’s bodies in general; it usually means easily damaged or unstable, so use it carefully and choose "weak" or "delicate" when that is the intended meaning.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.