Brittle

/ˈbrɪtəl/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Easily broken or shattered; fragile.

The old vase was so brittle that it shattered at the slightest touch.

Not able to withstand stress or pressure; tending to break under strain.

The brittle metal used in the construction of the toy broke when dropped.

Characterized by a lack of resilience; inflexible.

The brittle nature of the policies made it difficult to adapt to new challenges.

Having a hard but easily breakable texture.

The brittle texture of the cookie made it difficult to dip into the milk.

Referring to a material that does not deform appreciably before breaking.

Glass is a brittle substance that tends to fracture rather than bend.

Middle English 'brittel', from Old English 'brytil', related to 'break'.

brittle peace:

A fragile state of peace that could easily break down.

brittle patience:

Having little tolerance and easily losing one’s temper.

Emotionally unstable or easily irritated.

She's been so brittle lately, any little thing sets her off.

Prone to breaking under pressure.

Playing with that brittle egomaniac is a recipe for disaster.