1
: easily led into evil
frail humanity
2
: easily broken or destroyed : fragile
frail, open-cockpit biplanes …Jonathan Weiner
3
a
: physically weak
a frail old woman
a frail voice
b
: slight, unsubstantial
smiled a minute frail smileRaymond Chandler
frailly adverb
frailness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for frail

weak, feeble, frail, fragile, infirm, decrepit mean not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort.

weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or disabling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

Examples of frail in a Sentence

In his old age his health became increasingly frail. a small and frail ship
Recent Examples on the Web Oppenheimer was incredibly physically frail, but just so intellectually robust and strong. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024 One person briefed on the talks said there were indications that both Hamas and Israel were willing to negotiate over an interim deal that could exchange 35 Israeli hostages who are either medically frail or older for an undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners. Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 The Sun Devils looked frail in the season opener, falling to Mississippi State by 15 points. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 9 Jan. 2024 Any lot code Symptoms of and treatment for salmonella disease Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA. James Powel, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 Near the end of his life, old and frail, the man asks the gatekeeper a question: Why haven’t more people sought entrance at the door of the law? Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024 The next morning a frail Bosnian student shot an Austrian archduke. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2024 In video footage, Navalny — clad in a black prison uniform — appeared even more frail than in other recent appearances, with hair cropped close and eyes blazing out of a gaunt face. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024 As Britain’s population ages, with almost 19 percent of the population over 65, according to the 2021 census, up from 16 percent a decade before, the needs of an increasingly frail older population are weighing on the country’s health care system. Megan Specia, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English frele, frayle, borrowed from Anglo-French frel, fraile, going back to Latin fragilis "liable to break, weak" — more at fragile

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frail was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near frail

Cite this Entry

“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frail. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

frail

adjective
1
: easily led into evil
frail humanity
2
3
: not having normal strength or force
spoke in a frail voice
frailly adverb
frailness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on frail

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