brittle

1 of 2

adjective

brit·​tle ˈbri-tᵊl How to pronounce brittle (audio)
brittler
ˈbrit-lər,
ˈbri-tᵊl-ər How to pronounce brittle (audio)
; brittlest
ˈbrit-ləst,
ˈbri-tᵊl-əst How to pronounce brittle (audio)
1
a
: easily broken, cracked, or snapped
brittle clay
brittle glass
b
: easily disrupted, overthrown, or damaged : frail
a brittle friendship
2
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 adverb
brittleness noun

brittle

2 of 2

noun

: a candy made with caramelized sugar and nuts spread in thin sheets
peanut brittle
Choose the Right Synonym for brittle

fragile, frangible, brittle, crisp, friable mean breaking easily.

fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Examples of brittle in a Sentence

Adjective a brittle cracker that turned into crumbs in my pocket a brittle apology that was anything but heartfelt
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Some small clinical trials have shown biotin supplements may help strengthen brittle nails by improving their firmness, thickness and hardness. Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024 Tips for Making Peanut Brittle Here are a few of our Test Kitchen's best tips for making this peanut brittle recipe. Shelli McConnell, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2024
Noun
Everything is delicious, but its caramel apples, truffles and homemade brittles are particularly mouthwatering. Alexandra Maloney, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2024 Both are moderate trails that support a mix of cactus and wildflowers on rocky slopes with an abundance of brittles. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brittle 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of brittle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near brittle

Cite this Entry

“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brittle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

brittle

1 of 2 adjective
brit·​tle ˈbrit-ᵊl How to pronounce brittle (audio)
brittler ˈbrit-lər How to pronounce brittle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
; brittlest -ləst How to pronounce brittle (audio)
-ᵊl-əst
: easily broken, cracked, or snapped
brittle glass
brittleness noun

brittle

2 of 2 noun
: a hard candy made with sugar and nuts and spread in thin sheets
peanut brittle

Medical Definition

brittle

adjective
brit·​tle ˈbrit-ᵊl How to pronounce brittle (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on brittle

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