delicate
adjective
Key Types & categories Parts & wholes Related & opposite
- Word type
- noun
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
- Line style
- core relation
- instance, member or derived
- substance, domain or see-also
- Direction
- arrow points to the broader concept
- dashed outline: no word in this language
- Click any word to expand it.
Senses
Sense 1 adjective
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
a delicate violin passage
Related & opposite
Sense 2 adjective
marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique
a surgeon's delicate touch
Related & opposite
- skilled similar to
Sense 3 adjective
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
a kite too delicate to fly safely
Related & opposite
Sense 4 adjective
easily hurt
soft hands
Related & opposite
- untoughened similar to
Sense 5 adjective
developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety
the satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense
Related & opposite
- refined similar to
Sense 6 adjective
difficult to handle; requiring great tact
delicate negotiations with the big powers
Related & opposite
- difficult similar to
Sense 7 adjective
of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely
almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments
Related & opposite
- sensitive similar to
Table view of this graph
| Sense | Relation | Group | Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | also see | Related & opposite | breakable |
| 1 | also see | Related & opposite | frail |
| 1 | also see | Related & opposite | weak |
| 1 | antonym | Related & opposite | rugged |
| 1 | attribute | Related & opposite | strength |
| 1 | similar to | Related & opposite | dainty |
| 1 | similar to | Related & opposite | gossamer |
| 1 | similar to | Related & opposite | fragile |
| 1 | similar to | Related & opposite | light-handed |
| 1 | similar to | Related & opposite | overdelicate |
| 1 | similar to | Related & opposite | pastel |
| 1 | similar to | Related & opposite | tender |
| 2 | similar to | Related & opposite | skilled |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | fragility |
| 3 | similar to | Related & opposite | breakable |
| 4 | similar to | Related & opposite | untoughened |
| 5 | similar to | Related & opposite | refined |
| 6 | similar to | Related & opposite | difficult |
| 7 | similar to | Related & opposite | sensitive |