delicate
adjective
del·i·cate
| \ ˈde-li-kət
\
\
Definition of delicate
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: pleasing to the senses:
a
: generally pleasant
the climate's delicate, the air most sweet— William Shakespeare
b
: pleasing to the sense of taste or smell especially in a mild or subtle way
a delicate aroma a robust wine will dominate delicate dishes
c
: marked by daintiness or charm of color, lines, or proportions
a delicate floral print an ample tear trilled down her delicate cheek— William Shakespeare
d
: marked by fineness of structure, workmanship, or texture
a delicate tracery a delicate lace
2a
: marked by keen sensitivity or fine discrimination
delicate insights a more delicate syntactic analysis— R. H. Robins
b
: fastidious, squeamish
a person of delicate tastes
b
: easily torn or damaged : fragile
delicate wine glasses a delicate flower the delicate chain of life
4a
: requiring careful handling:
(1)
: easily unsettled or upset
a delicate balance the delicate relationships defined by the Constitution — New Yorker
(2)
: requiring skill or tact
in a delicate position delicate negotiations a delicate operation
(3)
: involving matters of a deeply personal nature : sensitive
this is a delicate matter. Could I possibly speak to you alone— Daphne Du Maurier
b
: marked by care, skill, or tact
her delicate handling of a difficult situation
5
: marked by great precision or sensitivity
a delicate instrument
delicate
nounDefinition of delicate (Entry 2 of 2)
: something delicate
—usually used in plural washing delicates by hand
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Synonyms & Antonyms for delicate
Synonyms: Adjective
airy, dainty, exquisite, nuanced, refined, subtle
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of delicate in a Sentence
Adjective
He has a delicate stomach and often gets sick when traveling. The fabric has a delicate floral print. We hung delicate lace curtains in the windows. The tomb was adorned with delicate carvings. the delicate flavor of the wine
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Azhdarchid pterosaurs, however, are one of the most difficult ancient creatures to classify since the remains of their delicate bones are rare and fragmentary. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Massive ‘Ice Dragon’ Ruled the Skies Above Ancient Alberta," 11 Sep. 2019 Trump courted the high-stakes meeting and then dropped it, perhaps because the choreography of the agreement signing -- the most essential and delicate part of any deal -- was poorly handled. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, "John Bolton's firing won't end the confusion over US foreign policy," 11 Sep. 2019 Beauty YouTuber James Charles wore a pair of delicate stilettos. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "Rihanna Keeps Reinventing the Lingerie Fashion Show with Savage X Fenty," 11 Sep. 2019 The cost could be significant and comes at a delicate moment for the two largest companies in the industry. — Josh Eidelson, Fortune, "New Labor Law Passed by California Senate Would Transform the Gig Economy—And Could Cost Uber $500 Million a Year," 11 Sep. 2019 Constant battery by fare evaders upset the delicate architecture of the fare gates, which had to be synchronized so that the right and left plates had to come up and retract at exactly the right time. — Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, "BART officials put an end to those modified fare gates at Fruitvale," 10 Sep. 2019 Vitamin C is also a potent collagen booster, and so, the addition of vitamin C to your nightly regimen can help thicken the delicate under-eye area and conceal discoloration. — Nikhita Mahtani, CNN Underscored, "Want to fight dark circles? Look for these ingredients in your next eye cream," 10 Aug. 2019 In fact, the weather was fitting for the angsty mood that her delicate, wilting vocals and dark, honest lyrics create over the brooding tracks that her brother and co-writer Finneas O’Connell create. — Seth A. Mcconnell, The Know, "PHOTOS: Billie Eilish performs as rain pours at Red Rocks," 6 June 2019 Each shahtoosh is painstakingly crafted, a process that can take years, and knowledge about how to work with the delicate, brittle wool is passed down through the generations. — National Geographic, "A rare antelope is being killed to make $20,000 scarves," 24 Apr. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The Thong’, this classic cotton thong style from Everlane holds the top spot in my delicates drawer because of its breathable material and classic fit. — Tara Gonzalez, Glamour, "The World's Most Comfortable Thongs, According to Glamour Editors," 4 Apr. 2019 Once dry, stack your delicates together in your drawer to help them maintain their shape. — Lauren Smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Wash a Bra the Right Way — And Mistakes You Might Be Making," 3 Nov. 2017 Idiosyncrasies were noted: Some people wash only a few delicates at a time. — Olivia Martin, Town & Country, "The Washing Machine of the Future," 15 Oct. 2018 To ensure that delicates, especially knits, don't stretch out of shape, always lay them flat to dry. — Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, "5 Major Mistakes You Make Hand-Washing Clothes," 2 Apr. 2015 While sporting lacy delicates won't stop you from getting a great workout, they're definitely not designed for that kind of physical activity. — Melanie Yates, Woman's Day, "The Best Underwear For Your Workout," 11 Feb. 2015 While sporting lacy delicates won't stop you from getting a great workout, they're definitely not designed for that kind of physical activity. — Melanie Yates, Woman's Day, "The Best Underwear For Your Workout," 11 Feb. 2015 The handful of delicates worn before the festivities begin—silk robes, chemises, camis, and so forth—also fall into this category. — Glamour, "How to Shop for Bridal Lingerie That Feels Cool, Not Corny," 29 June 2018 While sporting lacy delicates won't stop you from getting a great workout, they're definitely not designed for that kind of physical activity. — Melanie Yates, Woman's Day, "The Best Underwear For Your Workout," 11 Feb. 2015These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'delicate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.