French Conversation · Level 100
59 words
French word
fragiliser
Pronunciation
IPA/fʁaʒilize/
Meaning
- verbmake brittle
Example
Le froid fragilise le métal.
The cold makes the metal brittle.
More examples
La crise a fragilisé la confiance des clients.
The crisis weakened the customers' trust.
Core concept
A structure with less reserve strength, so a small strain can damage it.
Common phrases
fragiliser la confiance
weaken confidence
fragiliser une relation
weaken a relationship
fragiliser la position
weaken the position
Similar words
affaiblir: Reduce strength, effectiveness, or the ability to last.
abîmer: Harm a surface or interior, leaving it in worse condition.
endommager: Inflict damage that harms an object's function or form.
détériorer: Cause a gradual decline in condition or quality.
Definition in French
Causer une diminution de la résistance ou de l'efficacité d'une chose, la rendre plus vulnérable aux chocs ou à l'usure.
Word origin
Fragiliser comes from French fragile, from Latin fragilis, with the suffix -iser forming a verb meaning to make something fragile.
Usage tips
- Fragiliser takes a direct object and applies to physical things or abstract ones, such as an economy, a body, or an agreement.
Other meanings
- weakenverb
- undermineverb
Opposites
- renforcerstrengthenverb
- consoliderconsolidateverb
Related words
- fragilefragileadjective
- fragilitéfragilitynoun
- fragilisationweakeningnoun