Brittle

Adjective

Definition: Easily broken or shattered.

Definition: Hard but liable to break or shatter easily.

Synonyms: Fragile, Breakable, Delicate

Antonyms: Flexible, Elastic, Tough

Examples:

The brittle glass shattered into tiny pieces.
The extreme cold made the branches brittle, causing them to snap.

Mnemonics:

Think of a piece of thin ice that cracks easily - it is brittle.
Imagine trying to bend a piece of dry spaghetti - it will snap easily because it is brittle.

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English 'britil', from Old English 'brytel', from 'brot' (broken piece).

Historical Usage:

The word has been used since Middle English with its current meaning of easily broken or shattered.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Brittle as a twig"

Explanation:

Used to describe someone or something that is fragile or easily broken.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Interchanging the terms brittle and fragile.

Explanation:

While both words describe something easily broken, "brittle" specifically refers to something hard or rigid that is likely to break or shatter, whereas "fragile" refers to something delicate or easily damaged, regardless of hardness.