embrittle vs modify

embrittle and modify both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
embrittle	No	No	Yes	No
modify	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, modify is a hypernym of embrittle; that is, modify is a word with a broader meaning than embrittle:

Other hypernyms of embrittle include alter, change.

embrittle (verb)	modify (verb)
make brittle	make less severe or harsh or extreme
	add a modifier to a constituent
	cause to change; make different; cause a transformation