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Added 10 October 2026

friable

/ˈfɹaɪəbl̩/ adjective

Latin root: friābilis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about friable at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Easily broken into small fragments, crumbled, or reduced to powder.
Of soil, loose and large-grained in consistency.
Sand has been incorporated to make the soil more friable.
Of a poison, likely to crumble and become airborne, thus becoming a health risk.

Origin

Borrowed from French friable, from Latin friābilis (“friable”), from friō (“to crumble”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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