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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Brittle Definition, Usage & Synonyms (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：easily breakable (brittle)

brittle 🔊

/ˈbrɪt(ə)l/

adj.

Hard but likely to break or snap easily, like thin glass or dry leaves.

Brittle meaning illustrated by a dry, easily broken potato chip.

easily breakable 🔊

➕

/ˈiːzəli ˈbreɪkəb(ə)l/

adj.

Describes a physical object that is hard and inflexible, making it prone to cracking or snapping under pressure.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'brytel' (to break), related to Old Norse 'brot' (fragment).

💡 Mnemonic

Brittle sounds like 'little break' - think of something so little and fragile it breaks easily.

📖 Example

Be careful with that old plastic toy; it has become brittle over the years and might snap. 🔊 Be careful with that old plastic toy; it has become easily breakable over the years and might snap.

🔗 Collocations

brittle material – A substance that is prone to cracking or breaking.

become brittle – To become dry and fragile over time, often due to age or exposure.

brittle fracture – A type of breakage where a material snaps without significant deformation.

🔄 Synonyms

fragile (adj.) – Delicately made or easily broken.

crisp (adj.) – Firm, dry, and easily broken, often pleasantly so (like a cracker).

crumbly (adj.) – Easily breaking into small fragments.

🚫 Antonyms

flexible (adj.) – Capable of bending easily without breaking.

resilient (adj.) – Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

tough (adj.) – Strong and durable; not easily broken.

🌱 Derivatives

brittleness (n.) – The quality or state of being brittle.

📖 Cultural Story

Emerged from Old English 'brytel', directly meaning 'easily broken'. Its usage expanded over centuries from describing physical fragility (brittle bones) to metaphorical breakability (brittle alliances, brittle voices), reflecting how language concretizes abstract tensions.

Meaning 2：delicate/fragile (brittle)

brittle 🔊

/ˈbrɪt(ə)l/

adj.

Not strong or reliable; easily damaged or broken down, especially under pressure.

$Brittle bone metaphor shown in a fragile, fractured X-ray image.$

delicate/fragile 🔊

➕

/ˈdelɪkət/ /ˈfrædʒaɪl/

adj.

Used metaphorically to describe a relationship, situation, or state of mind that is not robust and can easily be damaged or destroyed, especially under stress.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After months of stress, their friendship became quite brittle and couldn't withstand a simple disagreement. 🔊 After months of stress, their friendship became quite delicate and couldn't withstand a simple disagreement.

🔗 Collocations

brittle relationship – A relationship that is strained and likely to break apart easily.

brittle confidence – A state of self-assurance that is easily shaken or broken.

brittle peace – A fragile or unstable period without conflict.

🔄 Synonyms

fragile (adj.) – Vulnerable or easily damaged, especially in an emotional or situational context.

tenuous (adj.) – Very weak or slight; having little substance or strength.

unstable (adj.) – Likely to change or fail; not firmly established.

🚫 Antonyms

robust (adj.) – Strong and healthy; vigorous.

resilient (adj.) – Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

durable (adj.) – Able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; long-lasting.

🌱 Derivatives

brittleness (n.) – The quality of being easily damaged or broken down, especially in a non-physical sense.

Meaning 3：harsh/high-pitched (brittle)

brittle 🔊

/ˈbrɪt(ə)l/

adj.

Unpleasantly hard, sharp, and high-pitched, like a sound that might crack.

Brittle sound visualized by a snapped violin string under tension.

harsh/high-pitched 🔊

➕

/hɑːʃ/ /ˈhaɪ pɪtʃt/

adj.

Describes a sound that is unpleasantly sharp, lacking warmth or richness, giving the impression it could crack or break.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The recording had a brittle, high-pitched noise in the background that ruined the beautiful music. 🔊 The recording had a harsh, high-pitched noise in the background that ruined the beautiful music.

🔗 Collocations

brittle sound – An audio quality that is sharp, tinny, and unpleasant.

brittle tone – A manner of speaking that is sharp, cold, and lacking emotion.

brittle laughter – Laughter that sounds forced, sharp, or without genuine warmth.

🔄 Synonyms

harsh (adj.) – Unpleasantly rough or grating to the senses, especially sound.

shrill (adj.) – High-pitched and piercing in an unpleasant way.

crackly (adj.) – Making a series of slight cracking noises.

🚫 Antonyms

mellow (adj.) – Pleasingly smooth and soft in sound.

smooth (adj.) – Having an even and consistent texture or sound without harshness.

warm (adj.) – Pleasingly rich, full, and soothing in tone or color.

🌱 Derivatives

brittleness (n.) – The quality of a sound being harsh and sharp.