brittle

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brit|tle /br'ɪtəl/
1 [ADJ]
An object or substance that is brittle is hard but easily broken.
Pine is brittle and breaks.
...the dry, brittle ends of the hair.
2 [ADJ]
If you describe a situation, relationship, or someone's mood as brittle, you mean that it is unstable, and may easily change.
These incidents suggest the peace in Northern Ireland is still brittle...
= fragile

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