delicate
So fine or soft that it can easily be broken or hurt.
delicate in a sentence
- She carried the delicate butterfly wing carefully, afraid the slightest touch would tear it.
- Pack the delicate glass baubles in soft paper so they do not shatter in the box.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to delicate?
- Astrong
- Bfine
- Csturdy
- Dtough
Show the answer
B: fine. The other three mean the opposite of delicate.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to delicate?
- Afine
- Bsoft
- Cweak
- Dtough
Show the answer
D: tough. The other three mean nearly the same as delicate.
Words that mean something similar
fine, soft, weak
Words that mean the opposite
tough, strong, sturdy
More words about appearance & looks
- dishevelled: Very untidy, with messy hair or clothes.
- distinct: Clearly different, or easy to see, hear or notice.
- divine: Belonging to a god, or so wonderful that it seems heavenly.
- drab: Dull, plain and without colour.
- elaborate: Full of careful detail, with lots of parts.
- elegant: Graceful and stylish.
- embellish: To add extra details or decoration to make something fancier.
- erect: Standing up straight.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test