frágil
1. Hard but liable to break easily; lacking flexibility or resilience
The old pottery was brittle and cracked under pressure.
A cerâmica antiga era frágil e rachou sob pressão.
2. Sharp or cutting in manner of speech; harsh or unkind
She spoke in a brittle tone that revealed her anxiety.
Ela falou em um tom áspero que revelava sua ansiedade.
3. Easily damaged or disrupted; unstable or precarious
The peace agreement proved to be brittle and collapsed within months.
O acordo de paz provou ser frágil e desabou alguns meses depois.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'brittle' is commonly used to describe both physical properties (glass, ceramics) and emotional/psychological states (brittle personality, brittle confidence). In Brazil, 'frágil' is the default translation, while 'quebradiço' is more old-fashioned or poetic. The term 'brittle bone disease' (osteogênese imperfeita) is medically recognized in both countries.
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