feeble
Americanadjective
-
physically weak, as from age or sickness; frail.
-
weak intellectually or morally.
a feeble mind.
-
lacking in volume, loudness, brightness, distinctness, etc..
a feeble voice; feeble light.
-
lacking in force, strength, or effectiveness.
feeble resistance; feeble arguments.
adjective
-
lacking in physical or mental strength; frail; weak
-
inadequate; unconvincing
feeble excuses
-
easily influenced or indecisive
Related Words
See weak.
Other Word Forms
- feebleness noun
- feeblish adjective
- feebly adverb
- nonfeeble adjective
- nonfeebleness noun
- nonfeebly adverb
- unfeeble adjective
- unfeebleness noun
- unfeebly adverb
Etymology
Origin of feeble
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English feble, from Old French, variant of fleible (by dissimilation), from Latin flēbilis “lamentable,” equivalent to flēre “to weep” + -bilis -ble
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A friend described her as in “feeble health,” which may have indicated physical problems, emotional issues, or both.
From Literature
So helping the poor, feeble, sick, that could be an interesting path.
Ma enjoyed the singing but clearly felt foolish in her feeble miming.
From Literature
Whether or not anyone watches whatever feeble offering they have on the actual day of the game hardly matters now, though one person — yours truly — will certainly be tuning in to report on the atrocities.
From Salon
The International Monetary Fund said Monday that U.K. economic growth is expected to slow to 1.3% this year, compared with 1.4% in 2025, highlighting the feeble nature of an economic recovery.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
