breakable
Something that is breakable can be easily damaged, shattered, or cracked if it is dropped or handled roughly.
Explanation at your level:
If something is breakable, it is not strong. If you drop it, it will break. Be careful with these things!
Use breakable for things made of glass or thin plastic. If you move house, you must label boxes as 'breakable' so they do not fall.
Breakable describes items that need special care. It is also used for rules or codes that can be changed or ignored under certain conditions.
The term breakable implies a vulnerability. Whether it is a physical object or a metaphorical contract, it suggests that the integrity of the item is not permanent.
In academic or professional contexts, breakable denotes a lack of resilience. It is often contrasted with 'durable' or 'robust' materials, highlighting the susceptibility to fracture or systemic failure.
Etymologically, breakable captures the transition from the Old English brecan to a modern functional adjective. It serves as a linguistic marker for fragility, often used in literary analysis to describe characters or social structures that are prone to collapse.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means easily broken
- Used for objects and concepts
- Synonym of fragile
- Common in shipping
When we call something breakable, we are usually talking about its physical nature. Think of a delicate vase or a thin glass window; these items are fragile and need to be handled with care.
However, the word isn't just for physical objects. You might hear someone say that a person's spirit is breakable, or that a legal agreement is breakable if it contains loopholes. It essentially means that the item or concept has a 'weak point' where it can be split or destroyed.
The word breakable comes from the Old English word brecan, which means 'to break' or 'to shatter.' It is part of the Germanic language family, sharing roots with the German word brechen.
The suffix -able was added later, derived from the Latin -abilis. This suffix is a classic way in English to turn a verb into an adjective, meaning 'capable of being.' So, quite literally, breakable means 'capable of being broken.' It has been used in English since the Middle Ages to describe everything from pottery to human resolve.
You will most often see breakable used with nouns like items, goods, or objects. For example, 'Please pack the breakable items in bubble wrap.' It is a very common term in shipping, moving, and retail.
In a more formal register, you might use it to describe a breakable code or a breakable rule. While it is quite a neutral word, it carries a sense of caution. If you are describing something very expensive, you might choose a more sophisticated word like fragile or delicate instead.
While breakable itself isn't the core of many idioms, it relates to several concepts. 1. Handle with care: Used for breakable things. 2. Break the ice: To start a conversation. 3. Break the bank: To spend too much money. 4. Break a leg: A theatrical way to say good luck. 5. Break new ground: To do something innovative.
Breakable is a standard adjective. It does not have a plural form because adjectives do not change in English. You can use it before a noun (e.g., 'a breakable toy') or after a linking verb (e.g., 'the toy is breakable').
The pronunciation is BRAY-kuh-bull. It rhymes with words like makeable, stakeable, and shakeable. The stress is on the first syllable, making the later parts of the word sound soft and quick.
Fun Fact
The suffix -able comes from Latin, showing how English mixes Germanic roots with Latin endings.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'bray' sound
Similar to UK
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'a' in the middle
- Stress on the wrong syllable
- Adding an extra 'r'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective usage
The cup is breakable.
Compound adjectives
non-breakable
Suffixes
-able
Examples by Level
The glass is breakable.
Glass = fragile
Adjective after verb
Be careful, it is breakable.
Careful = watch out
Warning
This toy is not breakable.
Not = safe
Negative form
Are these plates breakable?
Question
Question form
Put the breakable things here.
Put = place
Adjective before noun
My cup is breakable.
My = possession
Possessive
Do not drop breakable items.
Drop = let fall
Imperative
Is the vase breakable?
Vase = flower holder
Subject-verb inversion
Handle the breakable items with care.
These glasses are very breakable.
Please pack all breakable goods separately.
Is this plastic bottle breakable?
The antique is quite breakable.
Avoid putting breakable things on the floor.
The sign says 'Breakable'.
We need a box for breakable objects.
The security system has a breakable code.
Some promises are unfortunately breakable.
The contract contains a breakable clause.
Be aware that this material is breakable.
The vase is beautiful but very breakable.
Are there any breakable items in the shipment?
The peace treaty was seen as breakable.
His resolve was not as breakable as they thought.
The structural integrity of the bridge is breakable under heavy load.
He realized his ego was fragile and breakable.
The agreement is breakable if the terms are not met.
The artist created a sculpture from breakable sugar glass.
The illusion of safety was easily breakable.
Modern encryption is rarely considered breakable.
The delicate nature of the peace process makes it highly breakable.
She treated the heirloom as if it were the most breakable thing on earth.
The geopolitical stability of the region remains dangerously breakable.
His argument was logically sound but structurally breakable.
The fragile coalition was breakable from the very beginning.
The system is designed to be robust, not breakable.
The promise of eternal loyalty proved to be breakable.
The glass-like facade of the building was surprisingly breakable.
The legal framework is breakable through clever litigation.
The bond between the two nations is far from breakable.
The ontological status of the construct is inherently breakable.
The socioeconomic equilibrium is notoriously breakable in times of crisis.
The narrative arc is intentionally breakable to reflect the character's psyche.
The crystalline structure of the mineral is highly breakable.
The diplomatic consensus was deemed breakable by the opposition.
The ethereal beauty of the sculpture masked its breakable reality.
The historical record is breakable when viewed through different lenses.
The seemingly unbreakable law was, in fact, quite breakable.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Handle with care"
Treat something gently because it is breakable
This box says 'Handle with care'.
neutral"Break the ice"
Do something to make people feel comfortable
He told a joke to break the ice.
neutral"Break a leg"
Good luck
Break a leg at your performance!
casual"Break the bank"
Cost too much money
That car would break the bank.
casual"Break new ground"
Do something innovative
The research breaks new ground.
formal"Break the news"
Tell someone bad news
She had to break the news to him.
neutralEasily Confused
similar meaning
fragile is more elegant
The vase is fragile.
both break
brittle is hard but snaps
The twig is brittle.
both mean weak
frail is for health
The man is frail.
general term
weak is not specific to breaking
The link is weak.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + breakable
The cup is breakable.
This + is + a + breakable + noun
This is a breakable item.
Handle + noun + with + care
Handle the breakable item with care.
The + noun + is + highly + breakable
The glass is highly breakable.
It + is + not + breakable
It is not breakable.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Breakful is not a word.
The root is break, not broken.
Breakly is not an adjective.
Spelling error.
Sometimes vulnerable is better for abstract concepts.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a glass box in your hallway.
Native Speakers
Used when moving boxes.
Cultural Insight
Used in shipping labels.
Grammar Shortcut
Adjective + noun.
Say It Right
BRAY-kuh-bull.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say breakful.
Did You Know?
It comes from Old English.
Study Smart
Use flashcards.
Context
Use for physical things.
Adjective rule
No plural.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
B-R-E-A-K (can be broken) + A-B-L-E (able to be)
Visual Association
A glass vase with a crack in it
Word Web
Challenge
Label 5 things in your room as breakable or not.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: To shatter
Cultural Context
None
Commonly used on shipping labels.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Moving house
- Pack the breakable items
- Label as breakable
- Handle with care
Shopping
- Is this breakable?
- I need a box for breakable things
Shipping
- Mark as breakable
- Fragile and breakable
School
- Be careful, it's breakable
Conversation Starters
"What is the most breakable thing you own?"
"Do you have any breakable items in your bag?"
"Why do we label things as breakable?"
"Is trust breakable?"
"How do you pack breakable things?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you broke something.
Why is it important to be careful with breakable things?
Can a promise be breakable?
What is the most fragile thing you have ever seen?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, they are synonyms.
Metaphorically, yes.
No, it is an adjective.
BRAY-kuh-bull.
Unbreakable or durable.
Yes, very common in daily life.
Yes.
Yes, 'break'.
Test Yourself
The vase is ___.
Vases are usually fragile.
Which word means the same as breakable?
Fragile means easily broken.
A steel bar is considered breakable.
Steel is usually durable.
Word
Meaning
Synonyms match.
Correct structure.
Score: /5
Summary
If something is breakable, handle it with care because it can shatter easily.
- Means easily broken
- Used for objects and concepts
- Synonym of fragile
- Common in shipping
Memory Palace
Imagine a glass box in your hallway.
Native Speakers
Used when moving boxes.
Cultural Insight
Used in shipping labels.
Grammar Shortcut
Adjective + noun.
Example
Please be careful with those glass ornaments as they are highly breakable.
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