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
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
: a candy made with caramelized sugar and nuts spread in thin sheets
peanut brittle
Synonyms
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
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This means having it in your shampoo is a fabulous addition for men who suffer from hair that’s brittle or breaking.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
This is probably the better option for those with very thick or brittle hair.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
These nutrients help prevent our bones from getting brittle and prevent risk of fractures or osteoporosis.
—Hasina Jeelani, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
But hydrogen also can make pipelines get brittle and potentially fail faster than systems carrying natural gas alone.
—Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2024
Or if your hair is frizzy, brittle, or color damaged, apply it as a leave-in conditioner.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Among the names from her past are Mallory’s ex-fiancé Luke (Charles Jazz Terrier), now married to her former-best friend (Indiana Evans), her brittle, volatile but loving mother (Rebecca Gibney), and a handsome pathologist.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
Unlike the Earth, our celestial companion lacks plate tectonics, so its brittle crust crumples into unstable ridges called thrust faults to accommodate its dwindling volume.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024
Both are moderate trails that support a nice mix of wildflowers with an abundance of brittles.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2023
Start with a beguilingly creamy (yet dairy-free) scoop of roasted-pineapple sorbet, followed by a slice of coconut layer cake whose daintiness belies the zing of its lime curd and its cashew-pink-peppercorn brittle.
—Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2022
Legend is a natural blend of highly nourishing ingredients like argan, jojoba, grapeseed oils, and an extra boost of vitamin E. Together, these ingredients work to soften, hydrate, and repair the brittle or split strands of your beard.
—Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022
The perfect pairing for his after-hours drink, this buttery brittle is made with cocoa beans roasted in aged bourbon barrels.
—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 4 Jan. 2023
This causes bones to become weaker and brittle, which often leads to conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2022
Bridge vaults overhead, as if extending a muscular arm over the brittle-looking buildings below.
—Curbed, 25 Feb. 2022
Add brittle and chocolate to dough; beat on low speed just until incorporated, about 10 seconds.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2022
Adjective
Afterward, Tisch told me that New Yorkers don’t realize just how brittle something as basic as trash collection is.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This means having it in your shampoo is a fabulous addition for men who suffer from hair that’s brittle or breaking.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
This is probably the better option for those with very thick or brittle hair.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
These nutrients help prevent our bones from getting brittle and prevent risk of fractures or osteoporosis.
—Hasina Jeelani, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
But hydrogen also can make pipelines get brittle and potentially fail faster than systems carrying natural gas alone.
—Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2024
Or if your hair is frizzy, brittle, or color damaged, apply it as a leave-in conditioner.
—Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
Among the names from her past are Mallory’s ex-fiancé Luke (Charles Jazz Terrier), now married to her former-best friend (Indiana Evans), her brittle, volatile but loving mother (Rebecca Gibney), and a handsome pathologist.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
Unlike the Earth, our celestial companion lacks plate tectonics, so its brittle crust crumples into unstable ridges called thrust faults to accommodate its dwindling volume.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Noun
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
Both are moderate trails that support a nice mix of wildflowers with an abundance of brittles.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2023
Start with a beguilingly creamy (yet dairy-free) scoop of roasted-pineapple sorbet, followed by a slice of coconut layer cake whose daintiness belies the zing of its lime curd and its cashew-pink-peppercorn brittle.
—Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2022
Legend is a natural blend of highly nourishing ingredients like argan, jojoba, grapeseed oils, and an extra boost of vitamin E. Together, these ingredients work to soften, hydrate, and repair the brittle or split strands of your beard.
—Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022
The perfect pairing for his after-hours drink, this buttery brittle is made with cocoa beans roasted in aged bourbon barrels.
—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 4 Jan. 2023
This causes bones to become weaker and brittle, which often leads to conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2022
Bridge vaults overhead, as if extending a muscular arm over the brittle-looking buildings below.
—Curbed, 25 Feb. 2022
Add brittle and chocolate to dough; beat on low speed just until incorporated, about 10 seconds.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brittle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing brittle
Dictionary Entries Near brittle
Cite this Entry
“Brittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brittle. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
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
: 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
Nglish: Translation of brittle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of brittle for Arabic Speakers
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