delicateness
Easily broken nature
Delicateness is the quality of being delicate—fragile, refined, or requiring careful handling.
It applies to physical things like lace or porcelain, to subtle flavors or colors, and to situations demanding tact: The delicateness of the negotiations required experienced diplomats.
The word overlaps almost entirely with delicacy, though delicateness emphasizes the quality itself while delicacy can also refer to a fine food or a tactful manner.
Refined, graceful quality
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- daintinessRefined, petite elegance
subtlety · poise · polish · artistry · lightness · airiness · etherealness · gentility
Accuracy of measurement
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- adroitnessSkillful ease in action
- deftnessSkillful ease of movement
- nimblenessEase of quick movement
touch · technique · craftsmanship · carefulness · meticulousness · exactness · finesse · steady-handed
Responsiveness to stimuli
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- tactfulnessSkill in sensitive situations
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
thoughtfulness · carefulness · circumspection · judiciousness · perceptiveness · awareness · politeness · courtesy
Easily broken or damaged
- brittleLiable to shatter
- breakableCapable of shattering
- frailWeak and breakable
- vulnerableOpen to attack
tender · gossamer · diaphanous · ephemeral · perishable · flimsy · precarious · insubstantial
elegance
Refined, graceful quality
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
daintiness · subtlety · poise · polish · artistry · lightness · airiness · etherealness · gentility · tastefulness
precision
Accuracy of measurement
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- adroitnessSkillful ease in action
- deftnessSkillful ease of movement
nimbleness · touch · technique · craftsmanship · carefulness · meticulousness · exactness · finesse · steady-handed · surgical
sensitivity
Responsiveness to stimuli
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- tactfulnessSkill in sensitive situations
consideration · thoughtfulness · carefulness · circumspection · judiciousness · perceptiveness · awareness · politeness · courtesy · gentleness
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
vulnerable · tender · gossamer · diaphanous · ephemeral · perishable · flimsy · precarious · insubstantial · friable
delicatenessrobustness
Resistance to failure
sturdiness · toughness · durability · ruggedness · hardiness
delicate, delicious, delicacy, indelicate, delicately, delectation, delicates, indelicately