fragilities
States of brittleness
Fragilities is the plural of fragility—the quality of being easily broken, damaged, or destroyed.
The word applies to physical delicacy the fragilities of antique glass and to vulnerable conditions or states the fragilities of democracy, economic fragilities that could trigger a recession.
Using the plural emphasizes multiple points of weakness or different kinds of vulnerability.
Weakness of body
- infirmityWeakness from illness or age
- debilityImpaired strength or vitality
- feeblenessLack of strength
- faintnessVerge of swooning
enervation · exhaustion · deterioration · decline · wasting · atrophy · brittleness · shakiness
Liable to shatter
- shatterFragment violently, suddenly
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- fractureSplit in hard material
- breakableCapable of shattering
delicate · crumble · splinter · ceramic · porcelain · glassy · crystalline · gossamer
Soft or sore
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- gentleSoft and kind
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
raw · exposed · wounded · bruised · guarded · tentative · trembling · aching
Temporary, soon departing
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- impermanentNot meant to last
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
- temporaryLimited in duration
passing · short-lived · transitory · perishable · momentary · vanishing · decaying · dissipating
Out in open
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- precariousDangerously insecure
endangered · threatened · assailable · at-risk · insecure · perilous · unshielded · open
frailty
Weakness of body
- infirmityWeakness from illness or age
- debilityImpaired strength or vitality
- feeblenessLack of strength
faintness · enervation · exhaustion · deterioration · decline · wasting · atrophy · brittleness · shakiness · unsteadiness
brittle
Liable to shatter
breakable · delicate · crumble · splinter · ceramic · porcelain · glassy · crystalline · gossamer · diaphanous
tender
Soft or sore
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- gentleSoft and kind
delicate · raw · exposed · wounded · bruised · guarded · tentative · trembling · aching · bittersweet
transient
Temporary, soon departing
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- impermanentNot meant to last
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
temporary · passing · short-lived · transitory · perishable · momentary · vanishing · decaying · dissipating · fading
exposed
Out in open
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
precarious · endangered · threatened · assailable · at-risk · insecure · perilous · unshielded · open · helpless
fragilitiesdurabilities
Abilities to endure
strengths · resiliences · robustness · toughnesses · sturdiness
fragilitiespermanences
Enduring, unchanging conditions
stabilities · endurances · constancies · lastingness · fixedness