delicate

delicate — adjective

1. Something that is easily broken, hurt, or spoiled if not handled with care.

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Something that is easily broken, hurt, or spoiled if not handled with care.

Example

The antique vase was so delicate that Eri wrapped it in three layers of bubble wrap.

collocation: delicate vase / delicate fabric

A newborn baby's skin is very delicate, so you should use only the softest towels.

Common collocations
  • delicate fabric
  • delicate skin
  • delicate plant
  • delicate structure
  • delicate china
  • delicate condition
Synonyms
  • fragile

    the closest synonym; emphasises breakability more than the need for care

  • brittle

    describes hard objects that crack easily, like glass or dry biscuits

  • frail

    used mainly for people or animals with weak bodies, especially from age

Antonyms
  • sturdy

    strong and unlikely to break

  • tough

    able to withstand rough handling without damage

Grammar Patterns

delicate + noun (fabric, skin, structure, plant)

be + delicate

Common Mistakes

The box is very delicate, so it will protect the gift.
The vase is very delicate, so pack it carefully.
Delicate means easily damaged, not strong or protective.
She has a delicate illness.
She is in delicate health after the surgery.
Delicate describes a vulnerable condition, not a specific disease.

2. Requiring careful thought or skillful treatment to achieve a good result, especi

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Requiring careful thought or skillful treatment to achieve a good result, especially when the task is complex or the risks are high.

Example

Negotiating the peace treaty was a delicate process that took months of talks.

collocation: delicate process / delicate negotiations

The surgeon performed a delicate operation on the patient's eye to restore their sight.

Common collocations
  • delicate operation
  • delicate process
  • delicate negotiations
  • delicate task
  • delicate work
  • delicate surgery
Synonyms
  • tricky

    more informal; emphasises difficulty rather than the skill required

  • sensitive

    overlaps with sense 3; suggests the task involves feelings or personal matters

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

delicate + task / operation / process / negotiations

Common Mistakes

This is a very delicate work.
This is very delicate work.
Delicate is an adjective, not used as a noun in this sense.

3. A situation or subject that could cause trouble, anger, or embarrassment if not

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

A situation or subject that could cause trouble, anger, or embarrassment if not handled very carefully.

Example

Who will lead the team is a delicate matter that must be discussed privately.

collocation: delicate matter / delicate issue

Eri faced a delicate situation when both friends asked her to take sides in their argument.

Common collocations
  • delicate matter
  • delicate issue
  • delicate subject
  • delicate topic
  • delicate situation
  • delicate position
Synonyms
  • sensitive

    very similar; sensitive more strongly suggests personal feelings are involved

  • touchy

    informal; suggests people react with quick anger or defensiveness

Antonyms
  • safe

    unlikely to cause offence or difficulty

  • uncontroversial

    not likely to cause disagreement or argument

Grammar Patterns

delicate + matter / issue / subject / topic / situation

be + delicate (of situations)

Common Mistakes

The meeting was very delicate.
The topic discussed at the meeting was very delicate.
The situation or subject is delicate, not the event itself.
Money is a delicate thing between friends.
Money is a delicate matter between friends.
Use matter, issue, or subject rather than thing.

4. Able to detect, measure, or respond to extremely small changes or differences wi

4.adjectiveC1
Definition

Able to detect, measure, or respond to extremely small changes or differences with great accuracy.

Example

The laboratory uses a delicate instrument that can measure temperature changes of one thousandth of a degree.

instrument as subject: delicate instrument

This delicate scale can detect a single grain of sand added to a bowl of rice.

Common collocations
  • delicate instrument
  • delicate sensor
  • delicate equipment
  • delicate scale
  • delicate lens
  • delicate calibration
Synonyms
  • sensitive

    overlapping but broader; sensitive equipment responds to input, while delicate emphasises fine precision

  • precise

    focuses on accuracy of measurement rather than the ability to detect small changes

Antonyms
  • robust

    describes equipment that is strong and can tolerate rough conditions, but may lack fine sensitivity

  • coarse

    opposite of fine precision; measures only large changes

Grammar Patterns

delicate + instrument / sensor / equipment / scale

Usage Note

Subject is usually a measuring or detecting device — instrument, scale, sensor, microscope, or equipment. Also used attributively: a delicate instrument.

Common Mistakes

She has a delicate ear for music.
She has a sensitive ear for music.
For human senses, use sensitive, not delicate.

5. Soft, light, or mild in a pleasant way — for example, a gentle taste, a quiet so

5.adjectiveB1
Definition

Soft, light, or mild in a pleasant way — for example, a gentle taste, a quiet sound, or a pale colour.

Example

The baby's skin had a delicate scent of lavender and baby powder after her bath.

collocation: delicate scent / delicate flavour

Valentina chose a delicate shade of pink for the walls of the nursery room.

Common collocations
  • delicate flavour
  • delicate scent
  • delicate shade
  • delicate breeze
  • delicate melody
  • delicate taste
Synonyms
  • subtle

    emphasises that something is not strong or obvious; often used for flavours and colours

  • gentle

    focuses on the softness and lack of force; common for breezes, sounds, and touches

Antonyms
  • strong

    intense or powerful in flavour, smell, or effect

  • harsh

    rough or unpleasant to the senses; opposite of gentle

Grammar Patterns

delicate + flavour / scent / shade / breeze / melody

Common Mistakes

The soup tastes very delicate and rich.
The soup has a delicate flavour
light and subtle, not heavy.' — Delicate means mild/subtle, not rich or strong.
The music is very delicate and loud.
The music is very delicate and quiet.
Delicate sounds are soft, not loud.

6. Small or thin in an attractive and graceful way, especially with fine details or

6.adjectiveB2
Definition

Small or thin in an attractive and graceful way, especially with fine details or elegant proportions.

Example

The artist painted delicate flowers along the edges of an old wooden box from the market.

collocation: delicate features / delicate flowers

Kemi admired the delicate patterns carved into the surface of the ivory bracelet.

Common collocations
  • delicate features
  • delicate hands
  • delicate flowers
  • delicate pattern
  • delicate gold chain
  • delicate lace
  • delicate carving
Synonyms
  • dainty

    similar but more about smallness and prettiness; often used for food or decorative items

  • fine

    emphasises thinness and careful detail; common for thread, writing, or workmanship

  • intricate

    focuses on the complexity of detail rather than the thinness

Antonyms
  • coarse

    rough or thick in texture or appearance

  • clumsy

    lacking grace or fine detail

Grammar Patterns

delicate + features / hands / flowers / pattern / carving / chain

Usage Note

Describes physical objects with thin, fine, or graceful features — commonly hands, fingers, features, carving, jewellery, lace, or flowers.

Common Mistakes

She is very delicate.' (when describing someone's thin body as attractive)
She has delicate features.' or 'Her hands are delicate.
Delicate for a person's whole body can sound like they are frail or sick, not attractively thin.

delicate — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Fragile, delicate, brittle, and frail all relate to breakability, but they highlight different aspects. Fragile is the closest to delicate and often interchangeable — both describe objects that break easily (a fragile glass, a delicate vase). However, delicate adds the idea that careful handling is needed, while fragile focuses purely on the risk of breaking. Brittle describes hard materials that crack or shatter under pressure, like dry biscuits, old plastic, or frozen pipes — the key difference is that brittle objects are rigid, not flexible. Frail is almost always used for living things with weak bodies, especially elderly people or sick animals (a frail old man, a frail bird). Delicate is the broadest of the four: it can describe fragile objects (delicate china), frail people (in delicate health), plants that need shade, or even abstract situations. When choosing between them, use fragile for general breakability, brittle for hard-and-cracking, frail for weak health, and delicate when you want to emphasize that care or gentleness is needed for any reason. For example: 'The brittle cookie snapped in half, but the delicate lace required a gentle hand to mend.'

fragile ↗delicate ↗brittlefrail

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • extremely delicate
  • very delicate
  • rather delicate
  • quite delicate
  • particularly delicate
  • somewhat delicate

Prepositions

  • delicate in nature
  • delicate in design
  • delicate in appearance

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Delicate comes from the Latin word delicatus, meaning 'pleasing, delightful, or dainty.' It passed through Old French as delicat before entering English in the 1300s. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'something that gives pleasure' to 'something fine and easily spoiled' — the idea being that things which are finely made or highly sensitive need gentle treatment. The same Latin root gave us delicacy (a fine food or a sensitive situation) and delight (great pleasure).