Delicate vs This feels kind of flimsy

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Delicate

Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective

This feels kind of flimsy

Top 2,000 (common)
 DelicateThis feels kind of flimsy
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/🇬🇧 //ðɪs fiːlz kaɪnd əv ˈflɪm.zi//🇺🇸 //ðɪs filz kaɪnd ʌv ˈflɪm.zi//
MeaningEasily broken or damaged; fragile.This feels weak or not strong.
ExampleThe delicate porcelain vase shattered when it fell from the shelf.This feels kind of flimsy for a rainy day.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, veryfeel kind of flimsy, build something flimsy, make a flimsy excuse
Antonymssturdy, robust, strong-
Common mistakesConfused with 'delicious' — they sound similar but have different meanings., Using 'delicate' to describe something strong or resilient., Omitting context; remember 'delicate' usually refers to physical or emotional sensitivity.Confusing 'flimsy' with 'firm', Overusing 'kind of' in formal situations, Not recognizing 'flimsy' can describe ideas or arguments as well
Usage notesUse 'delicate' to describe things that require careful handling, like fine china or fragile emotions. It’s generally appropriate in a variety of contexts but avoid using it in overly casual speech.Used to express doubt about the strength or reliability of something. Often applied in informal contexts.

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Delicate
This feels kind of flimsy

Frequently asked questions: Delicate vs This feels kind of flimsy

What's the difference between Delicate and This feels kind of flimsy?

Delicate: Easily broken or damaged; fragile. This feels kind of flimsy: This feels weak or not strong.

Can you show an example of each?

Delicate: The delicate porcelain vase shattered when it fell from the shelf. This feels kind of flimsy: This feels kind of flimsy for a rainy day.

Can I use Delicate and This feels kind of flimsy interchangeably?

Not always. Delicate and This feels kind of flimsy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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