brittle
brit•tleBrE /ˈbrɪtl/
NAmE /ˈbrɪtl/
adjective
word origin1 hard but easily broken
example bank
brittle bones/nailsThe paint was brittle with age. 2 a brittle mood or state of mind is one that appears to be happy or strong but is actually nervous and easily damageda brittle temperament 3 (of a sound) hard and sharp in an unpleasant waya brittle laugh‘Not at all,’ she said in a brittle voice, avoiding his eye. 
brittle•ness /BrE ˈbrɪtlnəs; NAmE ˈbrɪtlnəs/ noun [uncountable]the hardness and brittleness of coalThere was a brittleness to his tone.
