brittle
1 of 2adjective
brit·tle ˈbri-tᵊl 
brittler ˈbrit-lər
ˈbri-tᵊl-ər
; brittlest ˈbrit-ləst ˈbri-tᵊl-əst
1
a
: easily broken, cracked, or snapped
brittle clay
brittle glass
b
: easily disrupted, overthrown, or damaged : frail
a brittle friendship
2
a
: perishable, mortal
b
: transitory, evanescent
3
: easily hurt or offended : sensitive
a brittle personality
4
: sharp
the brittle staccato of snare drums
5
: lacking warmth, depth, or generosity of spirit : cold
a brittle selfish person
6
medical : affected with or being a form of type 1 diabetes characterized by large and unpredictable fluctuations in blood glucose level
brittlely
ˈbri-tᵊl-(l)ē
adverb brittleness
ˈbri-tᵊl-nəs
noun brittle
2 of 2noun
: a candy made with caramelized sugar and nuts spread in thin sheets
peanut brittle
Synonyms
Adjective
- brickle [dialect]
- crisp
- crispy
- crumbly
- embrittled
- flaky
- flakey
- friable
- short
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective a brittle cracker that turned into crumbs in my pocket a brittle apology that was anything but heartfelt
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Since mattes usually form when hair is dry and brittle, this rich and creamy formula instantly helps mattes by drenching the hair with hydration and natural botanicals to soften it. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 This clarifying cleanser that's rich in Jamaican black castor oil, shea butter, peppermint, and apple cider vinegar helps transform dry and brittle hair into luscious locks instantly. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 6 June 2022 Dead wood is dry and brittle and its bark may be darker in color than live wood. chicagotribune.com, 17 Apr. 2022 Drying alcohols are also an ingredient to avoid because there can cause hair to become dry and brittle. ELLE, 15 Apr. 2022 The manzanita and chaparral are dry and brittle and the Santa Ana winds have begun to blow. Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2022 The result: healthy and fluttery lashes — rather than dry and brittle ones that are obviously doused in mascara. Talia Gutierrez, Allure, 1 Mar. 2022 The hair becomes dry and brittle, leading to breakage. Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 21 Jan. 2022 oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2022 Aromas of mandarins, some honeydew melon, cherries and slight mint brittle. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 31 July 2022 Pair with mint brittle or even lamb chops with mint sauce. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 Craft Beer Collection includes 12 caramels and 8 ounces of brittle for $32. Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 Aromas of mint brittle, cherries, tobacco and wet ferns. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 For that brittle, glassy sugar topping, a mini blowtorch is your friend—and a worthy investment. Ashley Dunne, Sunset Magazine, 28 Apr. 2022 The cola brittle is a play on the African American tradition of dropping a handful of peanuts into fizzy bottles of Coca Cola. Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2022 This bar of ruby cacao swirls in cocoa nibs from regular chocolate that have been made into a sweet brittle. Magdalena O'neal, Sunset Magazine, 21 Jan. 2022 See More
Adjective
Last week, a team from the World Food Program visited Tana River County in eastern Kenya, its convoy kicking up clouds of brown dust that coated the brittle roadside brush. Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Since mattes usually form when hair is dry and brittle, this rich and creamy formula instantly helps mattes by drenching the hair with hydration and natural botanicals to soften it. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 This clarifying cleanser that's rich in Jamaican black castor oil, shea butter, peppermint, and apple cider vinegar helps transform dry and brittle hair into luscious locks instantly. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 6 June 2022 Dead wood is dry and brittle and its bark may be darker in color than live wood. chicagotribune.com, 17 Apr. 2022 Drying alcohols are also an ingredient to avoid because there can cause hair to become dry and brittle. ELLE, 15 Apr. 2022 The manzanita and chaparral are dry and brittle and the Santa Ana winds have begun to blow. Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2022 The result: healthy and fluttery lashes — rather than dry and brittle ones that are obviously doused in mascara. Talia Gutierrez, Allure, 1 Mar. 2022 The hair becomes dry and brittle, leading to breakage. Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 21 Jan. 2022 Noun
And the strawberry jam is a bright visual complement to the black brittle that is also a sweet, fresh addition to the vanilla soft serve. oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2022 Aromas of mandarins, some honeydew melon, cherries and slight mint brittle. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 31 July 2022 Pair with mint brittle or even lamb chops with mint sauce. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 Craft Beer Collection includes 12 caramels and 8 ounces of brittle for $32. Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 Aromas of mint brittle, cherries, tobacco and wet ferns. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 For that brittle, glassy sugar topping, a mini blowtorch is your friend—and a worthy investment. Ashley Dunne, Sunset Magazine, 28 Apr. 2022 The cola brittle is a play on the African American tradition of dropping a handful of peanuts into fizzy bottles of Coca Cola. Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2022 This bar of ruby cacao swirls in cocoa nibs from regular chocolate that have been made into a sweet brittle. Magdalena O'neal, Sunset Magazine, 21 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Middle English britil; akin to Old English brēotan to break, Old Norse brjōta
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1892, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing brittle
Kids Definition
brittle
adjective
brit·tle ˈbri-tᵊl
brittler; brittlest
: hard but easily broken
brittle glass
Medical Definition
brittle
adjective
brit·tle ˈbrit-ᵊl
: affected with or being a form of type 1 diabetes characterized by large and unpredictable fluctuations in blood glucose level
brittle diabetes
a brittle diabetic
brittle
adjective
1
as in crisp
having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure a brittle cracker that turned into crumbs in my pocket Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- crisp
- crumbly
- fragile
- friable
- short
- flaky
- crisped
- crispy
- brickle
- flakey
- embrittled
- crunchy
- delicate
- crusty
- breakable
- crackly
- crispened
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pliable
- resilient
- elastic
- flexible
- tough
- strong
- pliant
- sturdy
2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling a brittle apology that was anything but heartfelt Synonyms & Similar Words
- icy
- cold
- frigid
- chilly
- cool
- clammy
- frozen
- chill
- frosty
- arctic
- gelid
- reserved
- detached
- unfriendly
- unsympathetic
- glacial
- wintry
- hard-eyed
- antiseptic
- coldish
- wintery
- pitiless
- uncaring
- unresponsive
- unfeeling
- cold-eyed
- heartless
- uncordial
- unemotional
- undemonstrative
- soulless
- hard-hearted
- unenthusiastic
- aloof
- coldhearted
- apathetic
- bloodless
- indifferent
- uninterested
- impersonal
- kindless
- antisocial
- unsociable
- standoffish
- dispassionate
- cold-blooded
- offish
- unsocial
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warm
- kind
- cordial
- friendly
- sympathetic
- hearty
- genial
- happy
- expressive
- emotional
- compassionate
- demonstrative
- warm-blooded
- warmhearted
- kindhearted
- enthusiastic
- eager
- passionate
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of brittle are crisp, fragile, frangible, and friable. While all these words mean "breaking easily," brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.
brittle bones
The synonyms crisp and brittle are sometimes interchangeable, but crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.
crisp lettuce
The meanings of fragile and brittle largely overlap; however, fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.
a fragile antique chair
While the synonyms frangible and brittle are close in meaning, frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.
frangible stone used for paving
In some situations, the words friable and brittle are roughly equivalent. However, friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.
friable soil