frail
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for frail, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Physically weak or delicate, especially due to age or illness.
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.
Antonyms
How to use frail
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
frail health
frail elderly
grow frail
Etymology
From Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis ("breakable") — a doublet of "fragile."
Full origin of frail →Frequently asked questions
What does “frail” mean?
The word “frail” means physically weak or delicate, especially due to age or illness. In plain terms, weak and delicate — usually describing a person's health, but sometimes their resolve.
How do you pronounce “frail”?
“Frail” is pronounced frayl (/fɹeɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “frail” in a sentence?
Here is “frail” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother had grown frail after the long winter.”
What part of speech is “frail”?
“Frail” is an adjective.
Where does the word “frail” come from?
The word “frail” comes from Latin. From Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis ("breakable") — a doublet of "fragile.".
Is “frail” a common word?
“Frail” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “frail” have?
“Frail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: physically weak or delicate, especially due to age or illness.
