How do you pronounce fragile?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/.

fragile

/ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.86 in modern English

Syllables: fra-gil
IPA: /ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Easily broken, not sturdy; of delicate material.

adj

Readily disrupted or destroyed.

adj

Feeling weak or easily disturbed as a result of illness.

British usage

adj

Thin-skinned or oversensitive.

British usage

noun

Something that is fragile.

Example Sentences

"She caught the fragile vase before it could shatter on the floor."
"The chemist synthesizes a fragile molecule."
"The UN tries to maintain the fragile peace process in the region."
"He is a very fragile person and gets easily depressed."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate with fraction, fracture and doublet of frail.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: *bʰreg-, fragilis

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/
British English: /ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/

Usage

British usage

Inflected Forms

fragiler (comparative) more fragile (comparative) fragilest (superlative) most fragile (superlative) fragiles (plural)

Derived Forms

fragilely fragileness fragilization fragilize hyperfragile nonfragile superfragile ultrafragile unfragile

Phrases

fragile masculinity fragile X syndrome warmblood fragile foal syndrome

Frequently Paired Words

fractal fraction fractional fracture fragility frail frailty frangible

Synonyms

uneasy breakable delicate destructible flimsy tender fragile frail frailsome frangible slim tenuous

Antonyms

antifragile durable indestructible unbreakable unfragile

Rhymes With

agile magill superagile