foible

American  

[foi-buhl] / ˈfɔɪ bəl /

noun

1. a minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect.

   an all-too-human foible.

   Synonyms:

   peculiarity, eccentricity, crotchet, quirk, frailty

   Antonyms:

   strength

2. the weaker part of a sword blade, between the middle and the point (forte ).

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foible British  

/ ˈfɔɪbəl /

noun

1. a slight peculiarity or minor weakness; idiosyncrasy

2. the most vulnerable part of a sword's blade, from the middle to the tip Compare forte 1

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Related Words

See fault.

Etymology

Origin of foible

First recorded in 1640–50; from French, obsolete form of faible feeble

Example Sentences

But the tone is often more satiric than somber, Park highlighting Man-su’s foibles and insecurities.

From Los Angeles Times

But the film itself is far from your average rom-com, more interested in the mechanics and machinations of modern dating than its lovable foibles.

From Salon

Martin Amis, a merciless observer of foibles, puts one writer’s envy of another at the heart of “The Information.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“I think these personal foibles of mine were tolerated among many as long as things were going well,” he said.

From Literature

We share many attributes, among them: optimism, adaptability and the capacity to laugh at life’s foibles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eccentricity
• failing
• frailty
• idiosyncrasy
• infirmity
• peculiarity
• quirk
• shortcoming
• weakness