Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for faint on Thesaurus.com adjective, faint·er, faint·est. lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.: a faint light; a faint color; a faint sound. feeble or slight: faint resistance; faint praise; a faint resemblance. feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness: faint with hunger. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous: Faint heart never won fair maid. Law unfounded: a faint action. Show More
verb (used without object) to lose consciousness temporarily. to lose brightness. Archaic to grow weak; lose spirit or courage. Show More
a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon: to fall into a faint. Show More
Origin of faint 1250–1300; Middle English <
Anglo-French, Old French, past participle of
faindre, variant of
feindre to
feign Related forms faint·er , noun faint·ing·ly , adverb faint·ish , adjective faint·ish·ness , noun faint·ly , adverb faint·ness , noun o·ver·faint , adjective o·ver·faint·ly , adverb o·ver·faint·ness , noun un·faint·ing , adjective un·faint·ly , adverb Synonyms for faint See more synonyms for 1 .
indistinct ,
ill-defined ,
dim , faded,
dull ,
2 . faltering,
irresolute ,
weak .
3 .
languid .
4 .
pusillanimous ,
fearful ,
timid ,
dastardly .
6 . pass out, black out.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fainting Contemporary Examples of fainting As the president neared the end of his remarks, a young woman beside him began to wobble, on the verge of fainting .
Clinton was hospitalized to treat a ‘clot’ Sunday after a recent illness, fainting , and concussion.
Plus, a fainting Clinton is news if only because of the suspicion it will generate.
Emergency rooms are full of the faint, the fainting , and the faint-hearted.
We will seek out our fainting couches if the president dares forget the first name of one of his sacred interrogators.
Historical Examples of fainting He took Soubise, who was almost in a fainting condition, from his friend.
Dora is not fainting —if you would only let her alone, she would do well.
What amazing importance a fainting fit can sometimes bestow!
The girl beside her saw her slip back, fainting , on her pillows.
I saw that she was on the point of fainting with fright and indignation.
British Dictionary definitions for fainting lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etc a faint noise lacking conviction or force; weak faint praise feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness without boldness or courage; timid (esp in the combination faint-hearted ) not the faintest , not the faintest idea or not the faintest notion no idea whatsoever I haven't the faintest Show More
to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness archaic , or poetic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage Show More
a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brain Technical name: syncope Show More
Derived Forms fainter , noun faintingly , adverb faintish , adjective faintishness , noun faintly , adverb faintness , noun Word Origin for faint C13: from Old French, from faindre to be idle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for fainting adj. c.1300, "wanting in courage," now mostly in faint-hearted (mid-15c.), from Old French feint "soft, weak, sluggish," past participle of feindre "hesitate, falter, be indolent, show weakness, avoid one's duty by pretending" (see feign ). Sense of "weak, feeble" is early 14c. Meaning "producing a feeble impression upon the senses" is from 1650s.
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v. "grow weak" (c.1300); "lose heart" (mid-14c.); see faint (adj.). Sense of "swoon" is c.1400. Related: Fainted ; fainting .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness; an attack of syncope. Show More
Extremely weak; threatened with syncope. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with fainting see damn with faint praise.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
