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
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.
It was surely impossible for her feeble human eyes to see Clare and Gingersnipes through the underbrush, surely impossible for her feeble human ears to hear their bickering; nevertheless, he felt a chill of fear.
From Literature
The old revolutionary story has grown brittle, feeble.
He ordered the army to assemble and, too feeble to stand, had himself carried out to address his men.
In the feeble light I turned the pages.
From Literature
Traffic declines, disruption from AI and consumers wary of traditional news sources have made what were once lucrative businesses more feeble.
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.
