delicate
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for delicate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Easily damaged and needing careful handling.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use delicate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English delicat, from Latin dēlicātus (“giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, (in Medieval Latin also) fine, slender”), from dēlicia + -ātus (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), usually in plural dēliciae (“pleasure, delight, luxury”), from dēliciō (“to allure, entice”), from dē- (“away”...
Full origin of delicate →Frequently asked questions
What does “delicate” mean?
The word “delicate” means easily damaged and needing careful handling. In plain terms, fragile, easily upset, or needing gentle, careful treatment — whether an object, a topic, or a flavor.
How do you pronounce “delicate”?
“Delicate” is pronounced DEHL-ih-kuht (/ˈdɛl.ɪ.kɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “delicate” in a sentence?
Here is “delicate” used in a sentence: “The vase is extremely delicate, so wrap it well before shipping.”
What part of speech is “delicate”?
“Delicate” is an adjective.
Is “delicate” a common word?
“Delicate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “delicate” have?
“Delicate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: easily damaged and needing careful handling.
What is the difference between delicate and fragile?
Fragile focuses on breakability — a fragile vase shatters if dropped — while delicate is broader: it can mean easily damaged, but also fine and subtle, as in delicate embroidery or a delicate flavor, or requiring tact, as in a delicate situation. Something fragile is almost always delicate, but delicate things are not necessarily breakable.
What is a delicate flavor?
A delicate flavor is one that is fine, subtle, and easily overwhelmed, such as the taste of white fish, cucumber, or lightly brewed tea. Describing food this way is usually a compliment, implying refinement rather than blandness, and it signals that strong seasonings should be used sparingly.
Is it polite to describe a person as delicate?
It depends on context. Applied to health or build, delicate suggests physical frailty and can sound tender or old-fashioned; applied to temperament, it can imply the person is easily upset, which may come across as condescending. It is safest when describing features — delicate hands, delicate features — where it reads as fine and graceful.