Brittle
WordNet
adjective
(1) Having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped
"Brittle bones"
"Glass is brittle"
"`brickle' and `brickly' are dialectal"
(2) (of metal or glass) not annealed and consequently easily cracked or fractured
(3) Lacking warmth and generosity of spirit
"A brittle and calculating woman"
noun
(4) Caramelized sugar cooled in thin sheets
WiktionaryText
Adjective
- Inflexible, may break or snap easily under stress or pressure.
- Cast iron is much more brittle than forged iron.
- A diamond is hard but brittle.
- Said of rocks and minerals with a conchoidal fracture; capable of being knapped or flaked.
- Not physically tough or tenacious; apt to break or crumble when bending.
- Shortbread is my favorite cold pastry, yet being so brittle it crumbles easily, and a lot goes to waste.
- Emotionally fragile, easily offended.
- What a brittle personality! A little misunderstanding and he's an emotional wreck.