brittle

Definition

Inflexible; liable to break, snap, or shatter easily under stress, pressure, or impact.

Etymology

From Middle English britel, brutel, brotel (“brittle”), from Old English *brytel, *bryttol (“brittle, fragile”, literally “prone to or tending to break”); equivalent to brit + -le.

Example Sentences

• "Near-synonym: crackly"
• "Cast iron is much more brittle than forged iron."
• "A diamond is hard but brittle."