brittle
/ˈbrɪtəl/
noun
- A type of hard, flat candy made from melted sugar and nuts, often broken into pieces.
- We bought a box of almond brittle at the farmer's market.
- My grandmother makes delicious peanut brittle every Christmas.
- The brittle was so crunchy that it made a loud snap when I bit into it.
adjective
- Hard but easily broken or snapped; fragile.
- The brittle ice on the puddle shattered when I stepped on it.
- Be careful with those brittle autumn leaves; they crumble if you squeeze them.
- The old plastic handle was so brittle that it cracked in my hand.
- (of a person's behavior or voice) appearing strong or confident but actually nervous, tense, or easily upset.
- The manager's brittle tone suggested she was under a lot of pressure.
- He gave a brittle smile as he tried to hide his disappointment.
- Her brittle laugh didn't fool anyone; she was clearly worried about the exam results.
- (of a relationship or situation) unstable and likely to fall apart.
- The peace between the two countries was brittle and could break at any moment.
- Their friendship had become brittle after years of misunderstandings.
- The company's finances were brittle, with debts piling up quickly.