embrittled
Rendered prone to cracking
Embrittled describes something that has become brittle—lost its flexibility or resilience and grown prone to cracking or breaking.
The term applies literally to materials weakened by stress, temperature, or chemical exposure: The hydrogen embrittled the steel pipes.
Figuratively, relationships or institutions can become embrittled through neglect or conflict: Years of distrust had embrittled their partnership.
Having surface fractures
- fracturedSplit or splintered
- shatteredBroken into fragments
- splinteredBroken into sharp slivers
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
rigid · stiff · inflexible · friable · crumbly · glassy · vitreous · crystalline
Eaten away chemically
- rustedCorroded by moisture
- oxidizedCombined with oxygen
- decayedBroken down organically
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
deteriorated · weathered · aged · fatigued · worn · eroded · disintegrated · crumbling
Made vulnerable to harm
- weakenedMade less capable
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- diminishedMade or became smaller
- underminedWeakened by stealth
depleted · sapped · impaired · damaged · load-bearing · delaminated · destabilized
Easily influenced or harmed
- proneInclined or face-down
- at-riskSubject to potential harm
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- unsafeLikely to cause harm
cracked
Having surface fractures
- fracturedSplit or splintered
- shatteredBroken into fragments
- splinteredBroken into sharp slivers
fragile · rigid · stiff · inflexible · friable · crumbly · glassy · vitreous · crystalline · hardened
corroded
Eaten away chemically
degraded · deteriorated · weathered · aged · fatigued · worn · eroded · disintegrated · crumbling · spalling
compromised
Made vulnerable to harm
- weakenedMade less capable
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- diminishedMade or became smaller
undermined · depleted · sapped · impaired · damaged · load-bearing · delaminated · destabilized
susceptible
Easily influenced or harmed
- proneInclined or face-down
- at-riskSubject to potential harm
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
embrittledtoughened
Made more durable
tempered · annealed · softened · plasticized · strengthened