What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
friable
Example
The soil in the garden was friable and easy to work with. [friable: adjective]
Example
The friable rocks crumbled under the weight of the hiker's foot. [friable: adjective]
frangible
Example
The frangible glass shattered into a million pieces when it hit the ground. [frangible: adjective]
Example
The frangible nature of the ceramic vase made it difficult to transport without breaking. [frangible: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Friable is more commonly used than frangible in everyday language. Friable is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while frangible is less common and is often used in technical or specialized fields.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between friable and frangible?
Both friable and frangible are formal words that are typically used in technical or scientific contexts. However, friable may be slightly more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.