brittling
Growing increasingly breakable
Brittling is making or becoming brittle—losing flexibility and becoming prone to cracking or breaking.
The term appears in technical contexts describing material degradation: hydrogen brittling in metal pipes, the brittling of aging plastic.
It can also describe figurative hardening: the brittling of diplomatic relations.
Breaking down gradually
- fragilityEase of breaking
- degradationDecline in condition
- weakeningBecoming less strong
- agingGrowing older over time
decay · disintegration · flaking · cracking · erosion · drying · oxidation · structural
Caramelized sugar confection
- molassesSyrup from cane processing
- sugarCrystalline carbohydrate sweetener
- caramelizationSugar's heat transformation
- crackNarrow break or attempt
snap · peanut · almond · cashew · pecan · slab · shatter · hard candy
Becoming firm and brittle
- hardeningBecoming less soft
- dryingMoisture removal process
- stiffeningBecoming less pliable
- dehydratingRemoving water content
toasting · baking · parching · crackling · firming · setting · solidifying · glazing
crumbling
Breaking down gradually
- fragilityEase of breaking
- degradationDecline in condition
- weakeningBecoming less strong
aging · decay · disintegration · flaking · cracking · erosion · drying · oxidation · structural · breakdown
toffee
Caramelized sugar confection
- molassesSyrup from cane processing
- sugarCrystalline carbohydrate sweetener
- caramelizationSugar's heat transformation
crack · snap · peanut · almond · cashew · pecan · slab · shatter · hard candy · confection
crisping
Becoming firm and brittle
- hardeningBecoming less soft
- dryingMoisture removal process
- stiffeningBecoming less pliable
dehydrating · toasting · baking · parching · crackling · firming · setting · solidifying · glazing · caramelizing
brittlingtoughening
Making more resistant
strengthening · tempering · annealing · softening · reinforcing
brittlingreinforcing
Making more robust
fortifying · hardening · stabilizing · consolidating · buttressing
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