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View synonyms for frail

frail

1

[ freyl ]

adjective

, frail·er, frail·est.
  1. having delicate health; not robust; weak:

    My grandfather is rather frail now.

    Synonyms: breakable, frangible, feeble

    Antonyms: sturdy

  2. easily broken or destroyed; fragile.

    Synonyms: breakable, frangible, feeble

    Antonyms: sturdy

  3. morally weak; easily tempted.


noun

  1. Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a term used to refer to a girl or woman.

frail

2

[ freyl ]

noun

  1. a flexible basket made of rushes, used especially for dried fruits, as dates, figs, or raisins.
  2. a certain quantity of raisins, about 75 pounds (34 kilograms), contained in such a basket.

frail

1

/ freɪl /

adjective

  1. physically weak and delicate
  2. fragile

    a frail craft

  3. easily corrupted or tempted


frail

2

/ freɪl /

noun

  1. a rush basket for figs or raisins
  2. a quantity of raisins or figs equal to between 50 and 75 pounds

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Sensitive Note

This term is sometimes perceived as insulting or condescending when used to refer to a woman, since it reinforces the stereotype of a weak female.

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Derived Forms

  • ˈfrailness, noun
  • ˈfrailly, adverb

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Other Words From

  • frailly adverb
  • frailness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of frail1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frail(e), frel(e), from Old French, from Latin fragilis fragile

Origin of frail2

First recorded 1300–50; Middle English frayel, fraelle, from Old French frayel; further origin unknown

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Word History and Origins

Origin of frail1

C13: from Old French frele , from Latin fragilis , fragile

Origin of frail2

C13: from Old French fraiel , of uncertain origin

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Synonym Study

Frail, brittle, fragile imply a delicacy or weakness of substance or construction. Frail applies particularly to health and immaterial things: a frail constitution; frail hopes. Brittle implies a hard material that snaps or breaks to pieces easily: brittle as glass. Fragile implies that the object must be handled carefully to avoid breakage or damage: fragile bric-a-brac.

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Example Sentences

Alma Hitchcock, the times I saw her, was a frail, birdlike woman who looked angry about her infirmity.

He was old, frail and handcuffed; 20 minutes later they had a crime to cover up.

He opened his eyes and he held my hand with his so-very-frail one, veins showing blue through his skin.

You start losing all this weight and looking gaunt and frail.

Omran, who was 17 at the time, was completely bald, weak, and as frail as a burnt match.

I had no sooner stepped upon the frail structure when it suddenly and unaccountably gave way in the middle.

Occasionally, over a narrow stream, a frail footbridge would be built.

Her exquisite, frail beauty held a strength that mocked the worship in his eyes and voice.

He brought us again to where the frail little woman determined to fight death with death.

He was a narrow-headed man with frail-looking sloped shoulders and a thin triangle of face.

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