Thing liable to break easily?

The question asks for a word describing a "thing liable to break easily." The most precise answer is Brittle. Brittle describes a material that is hard but breaks or shatters easily when subjected to stress, without significant plastic deformation. This foundational concept relates to material science and properties. Distractor Breakable is a general term meaning capable of being broken, but "brittle" specifically refers to the material's inherent property of shattering. Ductile is the opposite of brittle; it describes a material that can be drawn out into a thin wire without losing toughness, meaning it deforms before breaking. Fragile is similar to breakable, implying delicacy and ease of damage, but "brittle" more accurately captures the material's characteristic of shattering rather than bending or deforming.