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brittle

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Brittle is defined as something hard but prone to cracking or breaking, or refers to an unpleasant and sharp laugh or to a person or behavior that appears hostile but is often driven by nerves.

(adjective)

A person with osteoporosis is an example of someone who might have brittle bones.
A high pitched, sharp laugh is an example of a brittle laugh.
A person with a rigid and mean personality who is really just nervous on the inside is an example of someone who is brittle.

See brittle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

easily broken or shattered because hard and inflexible
having a sharp, hard quality: brittle tones
stiff and unbending in manner; lacking warmth

Origin: ME britel < OE breotan, to break to pieces; akin to ON brjota < IE *bhreu- < base *bher-, to cut with a sharp point

noun

a brittle, crunchy candy with nuts in it: peanut brittle

Related Forms:

brittlely adverb or brittly
brittleness noun

See brittle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective brit·tler, brit·tlest

a. Likely to break, snap, or crack, as when subjected to pressure: brittle bones.
b. Easily damaged or disrupted; fragile: a brittle friendship. See Synonyms at fragile.
a. Difficult to deal with; snappish: a brittle disposition.
b. Lacking warmth of feeling; cold: a reputation for being brittle and aloof.
Brilliantly sharp, as in percussive sound.
a. Perishable.
b. Fleeting; transitory.