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Delicate vs. Fragile — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Delicate refers to items that need careful handling due to their intricate nature, while fragile denotes items that are easily broken or damaged.
Delicate vs. Fragile — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Delicate and Fragile

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Key Differences

Delicate often implies intricacy or fineness, whereas fragile suggests a vulnerability to breaking or damage. Both denote a need for careful handling.
A delicate object may not always be fragile, as it can imply refined beauty, while fragile inherently implies a risk of damage or breakage.
Delicate is used in broader contexts, including describing flavors or situations, whereas fragile is primarily used for physical objects or states.
In emotional contexts, delicate can describe sensitive matters; fragile, however, often refers to vulnerable emotional states or ecosystems.
Delicate items can endure with careful handling, but fragile items have an inherent weakness, even with care.
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Comparison Chart

Primary Implication

Intricacy, fineness.
Vulnerability to damage.

Usage Contexts

Objects, flavors, situations, emotions.
Physical objects, states, emotions, ecosystems.

Durability

Can be durable if handled carefully.
Inherently vulnerable, even with care.

Emotional Connotations

Sensitive matters, subtle nuances.
Vulnerability, weakness.

Associated Characteristics

Refined, intricate, subtle.
Breakable, delicate, vulnerable.

Compare with Definitions

Delicate

Easily Damaged
The vase was delicate and needed careful handling.

Fragile

Weak
His health was fragile after the surgery.

Delicate

Fine Quality
She wore a dress made of delicate lace.

Fragile

Easily Broken
The fragile glass shattered immediately.

Delicate

Subtle
The dish had a delicate flavor.

Fragile

Delicate Structure
The sculpture was beautiful but fragile.

Delicate

Sensitive
The situation required a delicate approach.

Fragile

Easily broken, damaged, or destroyed.

Delicate

Fine or Exquisite
His delicate craftsmanship was admirable.

Fragile

Lacking physical or emotional strength; delicate
A fragile personality.

Delicate

Very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality
A delicate lace shawl

Fragile

Lacking substance; tenuous or flimsy
A fragile claim to fame.

Delicate

Easily broken or damaged; fragile
Delicate china

Fragile

Easily broken or destroyed, and thus often of subtle or intricate structure.
The chemist synthesizes a fragile molecule.
The UN tries to maintain the fragile peace process in the region.

Delicate

Requiring sensitive or careful handling
Delicate negotiations

Fragile

(UK) Feeling weak or easily disturbed as a result of illness.

Delicate

A delicate fabric or garment
The delicates cycle of a washing machine

Fragile

(UK) Thin-skinned or oversensitive.
He is a very fragile person and gets easily depressed.

Delicate

Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way
A delicate flavor.
A delicate violin passage.

Fragile

Something that is fragile.

Delicate

Easily broken or damaged
A kite too delicate to fly.

Fragile

Easily broken; brittle; frail; delicate; easily destroyed.
The state of ivy is tough, and not fragile.

Delicate

Exquisitely fine or dainty
Delicate china.

Fragile

Easily broken or damaged or destroyed;
A kite too delicate to fly safely
Fragile porcelain plates
Fragile old bones
A frail craft

Delicate

Frail in constitution or health.

Fragile

Vulnerably delicate;
She has the fragile beauty of youth

Delicate

Marked by sensitivity of discrimination
A critic's delicate perception.

Fragile

Lacking solidity or strength;
A flimsy table
Flimsy construction
A fragile link with the past

Delicate

Very subtle in difference or distinction.

Fragile

Vulnerable
The ecosystem in the area is quite fragile.

Delicate

Having or showing great consideration or care
Delicate remarks concerning the scandal.

Fragile

Brittle
The pages of the old book were fragile and brittle.

Delicate

Requiring careful or tactful treatment
A delicate situation.

Delicate

Fine or soft in touch or skill
A surgeon's delicate touch.

Delicate

Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise
A delicate set of scales.

Delicate

Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
Those clothes are made from delicate lace.
The negotiations were very delicate.

Delicate

Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.
Her face was delicate.
The spider wove a delicate web.
There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window.

Delicate

Intended for use with fragile items.
Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.

Delicate

Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.
Delicate behaviour
Delicate attentions
Delicate thoughtfulness

Delicate

Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.
A delicate child
Delicate health

Delicate

(informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.
Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.

Delicate

(obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.

Delicate

Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.
A delicate dish
Delicate flavour

Delicate

Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.

Delicate

Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.
A delicate shade of blue

Delicate

Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

Delicate

Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.
A delicate taste
A delicate ear for music

Delicate

Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.
A delicate thermometer

Delicate

A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.
Don't put that in with your jeans: it's a delicate!

Delicate

(obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.

Delicate

(obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

Delicate

Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went.
Haarlem is a very delicate town.

Delicate

Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.

Delicate

Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature."

Delicate

Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; - said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.

Delicate

Slight or smooth; light and yielding; - said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.

Delicate

Soft and fair; - said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.

Delicate

Light, or softly tinted; - said of a color; as, a delicate blue.

Delicate

Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; - said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.

Delicate

Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; - said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.
A delicate and tender prince.

Delicate

Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.
There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.

Delicate

Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

Delicate

Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.

Delicate

Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.

Delicate

A choice dainty; a delicacy.
With abstinence all delicates he sees.

Delicate

A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, - those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, - are only of the Corinth metal.

Delicate

Exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury;
A delicate violin passage
Delicate china
A delicate flavor
The delicate wing of a butterfly

Delicate

Marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique;
A surgeon's delicate touch

Delicate

Easily broken or damaged or destroyed;
A kite too delicate to fly safely
Fragile porcelain plates
Fragile old bones
A frail craft

Delicate

Easily hurt;
Soft hands
A baby's delicate skin

Delicate

Developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety;
The satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense

Delicate

Difficult to handle; requiring great tact;
Delicate negotiations with the big powers
Hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter

Delicate

Of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely;
Almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments

Common Curiosities

Can a person be described as delicate?

Yes, a person can be described as delicate, often meaning refined or sensitive.

What does fragile mean?

Fragile describes something easily broken or damaged.

Are all fragile items delicate?

Many fragile items are also delicate, but not all delicate items are necessarily fragile.

Can something be delicate but not fragile?

Yes, something can be delicate (like a situation) without being physically fragile.

Is fragility always physical?

No, fragility can also refer to emotional states or ecosystems.

Can mental health be fragile?

Yes, mental health can be described as fragile, meaning it's vulnerable and needs care.

What does delicate mean?

Delicate refers to something requiring careful handling, often due to intricacy or fineness.

Is it correct to label a package as 'fragile'?

Yes, labeling a package as 'fragile' indicates it contains breakable items.

Can emotions be delicate?

Yes, emotions or situations can be described as delicate, meaning they require careful handling.

How do you handle delicate items?

Delicate items should be handled with care and attention to detail.

Are fragile ecosystems important?

Yes, fragile ecosystems are important and often require protection and conservation.

Do delicate tasks require skill?

Yes, delicate tasks often require skill, precision, and careful execution.

Can food have a delicate flavor?

Yes, food can have a delicate flavor, meaning it's subtle and not overpowering.

Is fragility a negative trait?

Fragility is not inherently negative but denotes vulnerability or susceptibility to damage.

Is delicate jewelry durable?

Delicate jewelry can be durable if treated with care.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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