1
as in subtle
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness
a heavy sauce would spoil the delicate flavor of this fish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
only a person with delicate taste buds could tell the difference between these two wines
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3
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
the delicate handling of a difficult diplomatic situation
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4
as in fragile
easily broken
delicate glassware that must be carefully wrapped for shipping
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5
as in frail
easily injured without careful handling
the delicate ecosystem of the wetlands
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6
as in careful
hard to please
a person of delicate tastes
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7
as in elegant
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste
delicate perfumes that only a connoisseur of scents would appreciate
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8
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
a delicate child who was never allowed to play sports
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9
as in nice
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
delicate measurements of brain tumors that are only possible using the latest medical technology
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10
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy
extremely delicate instruments such as an atomic clock
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11
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
a delicate breeze was floating in from the open window
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12
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
the delicate challenge of inviting two people who don't like each other to the same party
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of delicate
Whether powered by retinol or antioxidant-rich botanicals, each formula firms and smooths the delicate eye area—while calming agents like centella asiatica and panthenol help prevent irritation.
—
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 July 2025
Ceylon cinnamon is the sweeter, more delicate and more expensive version of the spice, but cassia cinnamon is more popular.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 July 2025
In a delicate approach to pay tribute to the culmination of creative director Demna’s work, Kardashian donned a hyper-feminine aesthetic with a short, side-part bob.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
Guests can pick up housemade breads, rotisserie chicken, and delicate pastries made in partnership with Healdsburg’s Quail & Condor.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for delicate
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 July 2025
Ceylon cinnamon is the sweeter, more delicate and more expensive version of the spice, but cassia cinnamon is more popular.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 July 2025
In a delicate approach to pay tribute to the culmination of creative director Demna’s work, Kardashian donned a hyper-feminine aesthetic with a short, side-part bob.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
Guests can pick up housemade breads, rotisserie chicken, and delicate pastries made in partnership with Healdsburg’s Quail & Condor.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for delicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delicate
Adjective
-
They are intended to reduce trauma to the scalp, may contribute to smoother recovery, and are designed to help achieve subtle, natural-looking outcomes.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
-
The accessory was a subtle nod to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, whose colors have been green and purple since 1909.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
In Cisco’s 2025 Data Privacy Benchmark, 64% of global respondents worry about inadvertently exposing sensitive information through AI tools, even as nearly half admit to feeding personal data into them.—
Boris Dzhingarov,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
And new privacy legislation in Senate Bill 1295 requires collectors of sensitive data to notify consumers if their personal data is being used to train large language models.—
Angela Eichhorst,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike other thin, fragile flats that offer little wear before falling apart, these are reinforced with Vionic’s trademark cushioning, a removable insert, and premium upper materials.—
Kayla Blanton,
People.com,
9 July 2025
-
They’ve been counted on to fix what breaks, carry what slips, hold what’s fragile.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, later in the day, be careful about jumping to conclusions when dealing with others.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
-
The takeaway: Be careful about triggering too many credit inquiries.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Actor Andrew Garfield wore his trusty Omega De Ville Trésor, soccer star Bukayo Saka flexed a gorgeous Patek Philippe Nautilus, and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa flaunted an elegant Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
12 July 2025
-
The dress has elegant puff sleeves, romantic florals, and a square-neck that keeps you covered.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Precious metals and mining stocks were weak across both markets.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
In October 2005, a Finnish court acquitted Gustafsson, ruling the evidence against him was too weak and inconsistent.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
The units also vary in shape: the cube is nice for nightstands, while the wider grand size works well on large dressers.—
Jamie Fischer,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
-
And, the embroidery on the pillowcases adds a nice touch.—
Shalwah Evans,
People.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Those descriptors are accurate enough, as the band themselves have been upfront and proud about their influences: Lucinda Williams, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Bill Callahan, the Beatles.—
Leah Lu,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
-
Going back and researching, Gatiss learned this was accurate.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Delicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delicate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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