1
: easily led into evil
frail humanity
2
: easily broken or destroyed : fragile
… frail, open-cockpit biplanes …—
Jonathan Weiner
Jonathan Weiner3
a
: physically weak
a frail old woman
a frail voice
b
: slight, unsubstantial
smiled a minute frail smile—Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
frailness
noun
Examples of frail in a Sentence
In his old age his health became increasingly frail.
a small and frail ship
Recent Examples on the Web
The extraordinary shot of a frail, diseased young Don Vito on Ellis Island, looking out on the Statue of Liberty, sets the table for a decades-spanning journey through a country where opportunity is not extended, but seized through violence and dirty dealing.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
At a time when post-menopausal women still are stereotyped as dependent and frail, Kim’s film is a refreshing reality check.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 11 Oct. 2024
The spirit of resistance may prove too frail, and too exhausted, to rise again to the contest.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Videos of the 90-year-old Four Seasons frontman have gone viral on social media platforms like TikTok in recent weeks due to the singer appearing frail and disoriented on stage.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frail 
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Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
At a time when post-menopausal women still are stereotyped as dependent and frail, Kim’s film is a refreshing reality check.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 11 Oct. 2024
The spirit of resistance may prove too frail, and too exhausted, to rise again to the contest.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Videos of the 90-year-old Four Seasons frontman have gone viral on social media platforms like TikTok in recent weeks due to the singer appearing frail and disoriented on stage.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frail
Dictionary Entries Near frail
Cite this Entry
“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frail. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
frail
adjective1
: easily led into evil
frail humanity
2
: fragile
3
: not having normal strength or force
spoke in a frail voice
frailness
noun
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