brittle — hard but easily broken or cracked
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: hard but easily broken or cracked
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbrɪt.əl/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's old photo album pages were so brittle that they crumbled at my touch.
- After leaving the cookies in the oven too long, they became brittle like potato chips.
- His brittle ego couldn't handle even the smallest criticism.
brittle
ADJECTIVE[/ˈbrɪt.əl/]
hard but easily broken or cracked
The old vase was so brittle it shattered the moment she touched it.
Brit's glass till breaks with just one touch - brittle!
Whittle too little, and brittle wood still breaks.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'britel,' derived from Old English 'breotian' meaning 'to break or shatter.' The word is related to Proto-Germanic roots meaning 'to break' and is cognate with Old Norse 'brita.'
Breakdown
brit- (break) + -le (adjective suffix indicating a tendency or ability) = brittle (easily broken or cracked)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's old photo album pages were so brittle that they crumbled at my touch.”
“After leaving the cookies in the oven too long, they became brittle like potato chips.”
“His brittle ego couldn't handle even the smallest criticism.”
“The winter made tree branches so brittle that they snapped like matchsticks in the wind.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.