For Canada, a country with a fragile sense of nationhood, the affair was especially devastating.

What is left is a fragile sense of community, torn ever further.

A keen if fragile sense of invincibility hung over the scene.

But though we talked late into the night we achieved nothing except a fragile sense of solidarity.

But that was too much for her self-consciousness, her fragile sense of herself.

She had lost her fragile sense of purpose, of direction.

With a new but fragile sense of resolve, she mounted the stairs and walked into Robert's study.

But however fragile the sense of nation, people report a new pride in using Ukrainian.

Here in Pakistan, the news was a body blow to the country's fragile sense of identity.

Far more experienced kickers have fragile senses of confidence, and the environment has not helped his.