Trends of
brittle

View usage for:

brittle

(brɪtəl)

1. adjective

An object or substance that is brittle is hard but easily broken.

Pine is brittle and breaks.

...the dry, brittle ends of the hair.

Synonyms: fragile, delicate, crisp, crumbling More Synonyms of brittle

2. adjective

If you describe a situation, relationship, or someone's mood as brittle, you mean that it is unstable, and may easily change.

They are nurturing a diplomatic relationship that is dangerously brittle but cannotbe allowed to fail.

This may help to undermine the brittle truce that currently exists.

3. graded adjective

Someone who is brittle seems rather sharp and insensitive and says things which are likely to hurt other people's feelings.

His father, for all his brittle wit, was also a deeply sentimental man.

4. graded adjective

A brittle sound is short, loud, and sharp.

Myrtle gave a brittle laugh.

Synonyms: harsh, rough, jarring, grating More Synonyms of brittle

More Synonyms of brittle

brittle in British English

(ˈbrɪtəl)

adjective

easily cracked, snapped, or broken; fragile

curt or irritable

a brittle reply

hard or sharp in quality

noun

a crunchy sweet made with treacle and nuts

peanut brittle

Derived forms

brittlely (ˈbrittlely) or brittly (ˈbrittly)

adverb

Word origin

C14: from Old English brytel (unattested); related to brytsen fragment, brēotan to break

brittle in American English

(ˈbrɪtəl)

adjective

easily broken or shattered because hard and inflexible

having a sharp, hard quality

brittle tones

stiff and unbending in manner; lacking warmth

noun US

a brittle, crunchy candy with nuts in it

peanut brittle

SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfragile

Derived forms

brittlely (ˈbrittlely)

adverb or ˈbrittly

brittleness (ˈbrittleness)

noun

Word origin

ME britel < OE breotan, to break to pieces; akin to ON brjota < IE *bhreu- < base *bher-, to cut with a sharp point

brittle in Mechanical Engineering

(brɪtəl)

adjective

(Mechanical engineering: Materials)

A brittle material breaks or splits easily.

This steel is too brittle to make propeller blades because it might break whilst rotating.

Because the coke is so brittle, it can crack just from a heat cycle.

A brittle material breaks or splits easily.

Examples of 'brittle' in a sentence
brittle

After the first application, my dry and brittle mane felt much stronger and healthier.Their confidence looks brittle and they could struggle again today at Selhurst Park.The five-year-old was born with a rare condition that means her bones are incredibly brittle, making her as fragile as a china doll.Much of the building is collapsing and the terraced orchard surrounding it is dry and brittle.The supplements are often swallowed to ward off or control brittle bone disease osteoporosis.This serum is brimming with feelgood essential oils that keep skin silky and soften brittle hair.Finally he spoke over his shoulder with a voice sharp and brittle.This is because taking it for too long can have the paradoxical effect of making bones more brittle.The bat appeared dry and brittle.England were rocked back, their famously brittle confidence rattled again.

In other languages
brittle

British English: brittle ADJECTIVE

An object or substance that is brittle is hard but easily broken.

Pine is brittle and breaks.

American English: brittle
Brazilian Portuguese: quebradiço
Chinese: 硬脆易碎的
European Spanish: quebradizo
French: cassant
German: spröde
Italian: fragile
Japanese: 硬いがもろい
Korean: 부서지기 쉬운
European Portuguese: quebradiço
Latin American Spanish: quebradizo

Chinese translation of 'brittle'

brittle

(ˈbrɪtl)

adj

(= fragile) [glass, bones etc] 脆弱的 (cuìruò de)

1 (adjective) in the sense of fragile

Definition

easily cracked or broken

Pine is brittle and breaks easily.

Synonyms

fragile

Coffee was served to them in cups of fragile china.

delicate

Although the material looks tough, it is very delicate.

crisp

Bake the potatoes till they're nice and crisp.

crumbling

frail

The frail craft rocked as he clambered in.

crumbly

The soil is dry and crumbly.

breakable

My parents had a remarkable array of breakable objects.

shivery

friable

frangible

shatterable

Opposites

strong

flexible

resistant

rugged

sturdy

durable

elastic

tough

shatterproof

nonbreakable

infrangible

2 (adjective) in the sense of tense

Definition

curt or irritable

a brittle man

Synonyms

tense

He had been very tense, but he finally relaxed.

nervous

I get very nervous when I'm in the house alone at night.

edgy

She was nervous and edgy, waiting for the phone to ring.

stiff

The film is crammed with corsets, bustles and stiff collars.

wired (slang)

irritable

He had been waiting for an hour and was starting to feel irritable.

curt

3 (adjective) in the sense of harsh

Definition

hard or sharp in quality

Mrs Chang gave a brittle laugh.

Synonyms

harsh

He gave a loud, harsh laugh.

rough

‘Wait!’a rough voice commanded.

jarring

a jarring, nasal voice

grating

I can't stand that grating voice of his.

raucous

the raucous cries of the sea-birds

strident

She tried to laugh, and the sound was harsh and strident.

rasping

Both men sang in a deep raspy tone.

discordant

They produced a discordant sound.

croaking

guttural

He spoke in a low guttural voice.

dissonant

Guitarists kept strumming wildly dissonant chords.

unmelodious

Additional synonyms

in the sense of breakable

My parents had a remarkable array of breakable objects.

Synonyms

fragile,

delicate,

frail,

brittle,

flimsy,

crumbly,

friable,

frangible

in the sense of crisp

Definition

dry and brittle

Bake the potatoes till they're nice and crisp.

Synonyms

firm,

crunchy,

crispy,

crumbly,

fresh,

brittle,

unwilted

in the sense of crumbly

The soil is dry and crumbly.

Synonyms

brittle,

short,

powdery,

friable,

brashy

Synonyms of 'brittle'

brittle

Explore 'brittle' in the dictionary

单词	brittle
释义	Trends of brittle View usage for: brittle (brɪtəl) 1. adjective An object or substance that is brittle is hard but easily broken. Pine is brittle and breaks. ...the dry, brittle ends of the hair. Synonyms: fragile, delicate, crisp, crumbling More Synonyms of brittle 2. adjective If you describe a situation, relationship, or someone's mood as brittle, you mean that it is unstable, and may easily change. They are nurturing a diplomatic relationship that is dangerously brittle but cannotbe allowed to fail. This may help to undermine the brittle truce that currently exists. 3. graded adjective Someone who is brittle seems rather sharp and insensitive and says things which are likely to hurt other people's feelings. His father, for all his brittle wit, was also a deeply sentimental man. 4. graded adjective A brittle sound is short, loud, and sharp. Myrtle gave a brittle laugh. Synonyms: harsh, rough, jarring, grating More Synonyms of brittle More Synonyms of brittle brittle in British English (ˈbrɪtəl) adjective 1. easily cracked, snapped, or broken; fragile 2. curt or irritable a brittle reply 3. hard or sharp in quality noun 4. a crunchy sweet made with treacle and nuts peanut brittle Derived forms brittlely (ˈbrittlely) or brittly (ˈbrittly) adverb Word origin C14: from Old English brytel (unattested); related to brytsen fragment, brēotan to break brittle in American English (ˈbrɪtəl) adjective 1. easily broken or shattered because hard and inflexible 2. having a sharp, hard quality brittle tones 3. stiff and unbending in manner; lacking warmth noun US 4. a brittle, crunchy candy with nuts in it peanut brittle SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfragile Derived forms brittlely (ˈbrittlely) adverb or ˈbrittly brittleness (ˈbrittleness) noun Word origin ME britel < OE breotan, to break to pieces; akin to ON brjota < IE bhreu- < base bher-, to cut with a sharp point brittle in Mechanical Engineering (brɪtəl) adjective (Mechanical engineering: Materials) A brittle material breaks or splits easily. This steel is too brittle to make propeller blades because it might break whilst rotating. Because the coke is so brittle, it can crack just from a heat cycle. A brittle material breaks or splits easily. Examples of 'brittle' in a sentence brittle After the first application, my dry and brittle mane felt much stronger and healthier. The Sun (2017) Their confidence looks brittle and they could struggle again today at Selhurst Park. The Sun (2016) The five-year-old was born with a rare condition that means her bones are incredibly brittle, making her as fragile as a china doll. The Sun (2016) Much of the building is collapsing and the terraced orchard surrounding it is dry and brittle. Times, Sunday Times (2011) The supplements are often swallowed to ward off or control brittle bone disease osteoporosis. The Sun (2010) This serum is brimming with feelgood essential oils that keep skin silky and soften brittle hair. Times, Sunday Times (2008) Finally he spoke over his shoulder with a voice sharp and brittle. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE This is because taking it for too long can have the paradoxical effect of making bones more brittle. Times, Sunday Times (2015) The bat appeared dry and brittle. Erdmann, Robert & Jones, Meirion Fats, Nutrition and Health (1991) England were rocked back, their famously brittle confidence rattled again. Times, Sunday Times (2016) The texture becomes brittle rather than hard, so the honeycomb literally melts in your mouth. Times, Sunday Times (2011) Confidence remains brittle in the extreme, but the underlying picture is steadily improving. Times, Sunday Times (2013) The crude wax is yellow or dirty green, brittle and very hard. Hanssen, Maurice & Marsden, Jill E For Additives (1987) Cut healthy sprigs during dry weather and hang them in a cool, dry place until the leaves become brittle. The Sun (2010) The bell's brittle sound fractured the night's stillness. Eaton, John P & Haas, Charles A Titanic - Destination disaster (1987) It's complex, artful and rather brittle writing. Times, Sunday Times (2013) With others, it's sharp or brittle. Christianity Today (2000) In other languages brittle British English: brittle ADJECTIVE An object or substance that is brittle is hard but easily broken. Pine is brittle and breaks. American English: brittle Brazilian Portuguese: quebradiço Chinese: 硬脆易碎的 European Spanish: quebradizo French: cassant German: spröde Italian: fragile Japanese: 硬いがもろい Korean: 부서지기 쉬운 European Portuguese: quebradiço Latin American Spanish: quebradizo Chinese translation of 'brittle' brittle (ˈbrɪtl) adj (= fragile) [glass, bones etc] 脆弱的 (cuìruò de) 1 (adjective) in the sense of fragile Definition easily cracked or broken Pine is brittle and breaks easily. Synonyms fragile Coffee was served to them in cups of fragile china. delicate Although the material looks tough, it is very delicate. crisp Bake the potatoes till they're nice and crisp. crumbling frail The frail craft rocked as he clambered in. crumbly The soil is dry and crumbly. breakable My parents had a remarkable array of breakable objects. shivery friable frangible shatterable Opposites strong , flexible , resistant , rugged , sturdy , durable , elastic , tough , shatterproof , nonbreakable , infrangible 2 (adjective) in the sense of tense Definition curt or irritable a brittle man Synonyms tense He had been very tense, but he finally relaxed. nervous I get very nervous when I'm in the house alone at night. edgy She was nervous and edgy, waiting for the phone to ring. stiff The film is crammed with corsets, bustles and stiff collars. wired (slang) irritable He had been waiting for an hour and was starting to feel irritable. curt 3 (adjective) in the sense of harsh Definition hard or sharp in quality Mrs Chang gave a brittle laugh. Synonyms harsh He gave a loud, harsh laugh. rough ‘Wait!’a rough voice commanded. jarring a jarring, nasal voice grating I can't stand that grating voice of his. raucous the raucous cries of the sea-birds strident She tried to laugh, and the sound was harsh and strident. rasping Both men sang in a deep raspy tone. discordant They produced a discordant sound. croaking guttural He spoke in a low guttural voice. dissonant Guitarists kept strumming wildly dissonant chords. unmelodious Additional synonyms in the sense of breakable My parents had a remarkable array of breakable objects. Synonyms fragile, delicate, frail, brittle, flimsy, crumbly, friable, frangible in the sense of crisp Definition dry and brittle Bake the potatoes till they're nice and crisp. Synonyms firm, crunchy, crispy, crumbly, fresh, brittle, unwilted in the sense of crumbly The soil is dry and crumbly. Synonyms brittle, short, powdery, friable, brashy Synonyms of 'brittle' brittle Explore 'brittle' in the dictionary
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Trends ofbrittle

brittle

brittle in British English

brittle in American English

brittle in Mechanical Engineering

Examples of 'brittle' in a sentencebrittle

In other languagesbrittle

Chinese translation of 'brittle'

brittle

adj

Additional synonyms

Synonyms of 'brittle'

brittle

Trends of
brittle

Examples of 'brittle' in a sentence
brittle

In other languages
brittle