Friable describesgives a spoken or written account of what something is like something that breaks apart easily into small pieces or powdera dry mass made of very tiny loose particles. It is often used in science, medicine, and geologythe scientific study of Earth, its rocks, and structure.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈfraɪəbəl/
Easy pronunciation: FRY-uh-buhl (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable.
Used as an adjective meaning easily broken into small fragments or powdery crumbs.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Friable Meaning
crumbling or breaking apart very easily
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: easily broken into small fragments or reduced to powder
Example: The dry soil was friable and broke apart in my hands.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crumbly — A direct substitute for material that breaks apart easily.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Friable Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- crumbly
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use friable to mean simply 'fragile,' but it specifically means something can crumble or be reduced to powder.
- It usually describes materials, tissue, or soil, not a person or object that merely breaks easily.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does friable mean?
Friable means that something is easily broken into small pieces or powder.
What is a synonym for friable?
Crumbly is the clearest common synonym for friable in this sense.
Is friable the same as fragile?
Not exactly. Friable means it crumbles or powders easily, while fragile just means it breaks easily.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
