feeble
Americanadjective
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physically weak, as from age or sickness; frail.
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weak intellectually or morally.
a feeble mind.
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lacking in volume, loudness, brightness, distinctness, etc..
a feeble voice; feeble light.
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lacking in force, strength, or effectiveness.
feeble resistance; feeble arguments.
adjective
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lacking in physical or mental strength; frail; weak
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inadequate; unconvincing
feeble excuses
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easily influenced or indecisive
Synonym Usage
See weak.
Other Word Forms
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
Explanation
You know how you feel when you can’t open a jar of pickles? And then grandma walks in and does it in one shot without even grunting? That’s called feeling feeble, or lacking strength. In fact, feeble, comes from the Latin word flebilis, which means "lamentable" or "unsatisfactory." But don’t let it get to you. Your puny, inferior muscles are nothing compared to the guy who makes feeble attempts at humor. Lame-o jokes are way more lamentable than inadequate biceps.
Vocabulary lists containing feeble
List 3
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Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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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.
There’s a well-known scene from a 2001 episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants” in which a mob of fish mistakes a feeble old man for a bully and attacks him.
From Salon • Jun. 30, 2026
Manager Arne Slot spoke before the game about having nine players missing but that is no excuse for yet another feeble performance from his team.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
The Liverpool fans had every right to remind their rivals of their triumph last season, but it was a timely reminder too of how far their side has fallen in a feeble title defence.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
But the government—with a feeble military, weak economy and fear of stoking internal conflict like the 1975-90 civil war—lacks enforcement capabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
He lies in a large room and receives us with feeble expressions of joy and helpless agitation.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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.
