Delicate example sentences

Related (12): fragile, delicately, delicacy, sensitive, tender, frail, breakable, dainty, subtle, refined, precarious, vulnerable

"Delicate" Example Sentences

The situation was so delicate that one wrong word could destroy everything.
She held the newborn with delicate hands, terrified of breaking something so small.
His delicate health meant he couldn't travel long distances anymore.
The delicate balance between work and family finally tipped when he missed his daughter's graduation.
Honestly, I've never seen such delicate glassware — it's beautiful but completely impractical.
The negotiations were delicate, and everyone knew it.
My therapist said I needed to handle this situation with delicate care.
He approached the topic with delicate precision, knowing how much it mattered to her.
The delicate ecosystem of the coral reef is dying, and nobody seems to care.
She had delicate features — sharp cheekbones, thin wrists, a fragile kind of beauty.
This is delicate work, and I can't afford to mess it up.
The relationship was delicate enough without adding family drama into the mix.
Why is everything so delicate with you lately?
The chef's delicate touch with spices was what made the dish unforgettable.
It's a delicate subject, so I'm not going to bring it up at dinner.
The antique lace was so delicate it practically fell apart when I touched it.
He'd been through enough — his mental state was delicate, and she knew it.
The delicate negotiations between the two countries lasted for months.
After the accident, her delicate constitution meant she needed constant care.
The painting's delicate brushstrokes showed the artist's incredible skill.
Nobody wanted to admit it, but the whole arrangement was delicate and temporary.
The delicate flavors of the wine were completely lost on my brother.
She was delicate in the way that made you want to protect her, even when she didn't need it.
The delicate process of restoring the manuscript took three years.
I'm not delicate — I can handle the truth.
The delicate line between confidence and arrogance is where he always seemed to live.
His delicate condition meant the doctors had to be extremely careful with the surgery.
The delicate matter of his affair came out at the worst possible time.
The fabric was so delicate that the dry cleaner refused to touch it.
She moved with delicate grace, like she was afraid the world might break her.

Common Phrases

delicate balance
delicate matter
delicate situation
delicate health
delicate touch
delicate care
delicate subject
delicate condition
delicate features
delicate handling
delicate negotiations

Examples by Level

The glass is delicate — be careful.
She has delicate hands like a child.

The delicate flowers in the garden need special care.
He knew the situation was delicate and didn't want to make it worse.

Handling this delicate matter required honesty and patience from everyone involved.
The delicate balance between his two jobs was starting to fall apart.

She'd always been delicate in constitution, which meant her family treated her like glass.
The delicate negotiations had stalled, and nobody was willing to make the first move.

What he failed to understand was that the delicate ecosystem of their relationship depended entirely on mutual trust.
The artist's delicate brushwork revealed a mastery that transcended mere technical skill.

There exists a delicate paradox in human nature: we simultaneously crave connection and fear the vulnerability it demands.
The delicate restoration of the manuscript became not merely a technical exercise but an act of reverence toward a lost world.

Examples by Scenario

🏠 Everyday Life

My delicate coffee cup from my grandmother finally broke, and I just sat there staring at the pieces.
The delicate flowers I planted last week are already wilting in this heat.

💼 Workplace

The delicate situation with my coworker got worse when the boss found out about the conflict.
Handling this delicate client relationship is basically my entire job right now.

📊 Business

The delicate merger negotiations fell apart when the smaller company's board got cold feet.
Our delicate supply chain completely collapsed when the port shut down.

🛒 Buying / Shopping

I spent three hundred dollars on delicate silk sheets that I'm too scared to actually use.
The delicate china set looked beautiful but the reviews said it chips if you breathe on it wrong.

✈️ Travel

Traveling with delicate souvenirs is a nightmare — I wrapped everything in my clothes.
The delicate antiques we bought in Italy barely survived the flight home.

📚 Education

The teacher approached the delicate topic of divorce with surprising sensitivity.
My daughter's delicate self-esteem took a hit when she didn't make the soccer team.

❤️ Relationships

We got together after his divorce, so the situation was delicate and we had to be careful.
The delicate trust between us shattered the moment I found out he'd been lying.

📰 News / Politics

The delicate ceasefire between the two nations lasted exactly three weeks.
The senator's delicate political position became untenable after the scandal broke.

💻 Technology

The delicate components inside the phone are apparently worth more than the phone itself.
The AI system's delicate algorithms completely failed when given data it hadn't seen before.

📝 Formal Writing

The delicate balance between privacy rights and national security remains a contested issue in contemporary legal scholarship.
The restoration process requires delicate handling of materials that have deteriorated significantly over the past century.