infirm

[in-furm]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR infirm ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

feeble or weak in body or health, especially because of age; ailing.

unsteadfast, faltering, or irresolute, as persons or the mind; vacillating: infirm of purpose.

not firm, solid, or strong: an infirm support.

unsound or invalid, as an argument or a property title.

verb (used with object)

to invalidate.

Origin of infirm

1325–75; Middle English infirme < Latin infirmus. See in-³, firm¹

Related formsin·firm·ly, adverbin·firm·ness, noun

Synonyms for infirm

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR infirm ON THESAURUS.COM

1, 3, 4. weak. 2. wavering, indecisive. 3. rickety, tottering, shaky, unsteady.

Antonyms for infirm

1–3. strong.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for infirm

insecure, ill, anemic, decrepit, unstable, frail, ailing, feeble, debilitated, delicate, failing, faint, flimsy, fragile, halting, irresolute, lame, shaky, unsound, unsubstantial

Examples from the Web for infirm

Contemporary Examples of infirm

The next evening, Romero was saying mass in the chapel at the hospice where he lived in a tiny room near the infirm and the dying.
Why Pope Francis Wants to Declare Murdered Archbishop Romero a Saint
Christopher Dickey
August 24, 2014
Was the infirm old soldier, perhaps, taking Obama to task for the scandals in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
What the D-Day Veteran Told Obama at the 70th Anniversary Commemoration
Christopher Dickey
June 6, 2014
Are we unfairly neglecting the up-and-coming in favor of the old and infirm?
Do Blues Musicians Need to be Really, Really Old?
Ted Gioia
September 22, 2013
This created a good incentive for the other justices to lobby the infirm one to step down.
Justice Stevens Should Quit Now
Adam Winkler
April 5, 2010
I get sick when I hear of the charities obliterated and the old and infirm investors who are left with nothing.
I Made the List!
Burt Ross
February 5, 2009

Historical Examples of infirm

To be "infirm of purpose" is to be at the mercy of the artful or at the disposal of accident.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
The contemplation of the infirm and lonely steed overcame him.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
But the infirm are always cunning—he breathed not a suspicion.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Can they give beauty to the deformed, strength to the weak, or health to the infirm?
Joseph Andrews, Vol. 2
Henry Fielding
The Duke of Lerma, infirm and enfeebled by years, was unable to confront his foes.
Calderon The Courtier
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for infirm

infirm

adjective

weak in health or body, esp from old age
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the infirm

lacking moral certainty; indecisive or irresolute

not stable, sound, or securean infirm structure; an infirm claim

law (of a law, custom, etc) lacking legal force; invalid

Derived Formsinfirmly, adverbinfirmness, noun

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 infirm

adj.

late 14c., "weak, unsound" (of things), from Latin infirmus "weak, frail, feeble" (figuratively "superstitious, pusillanimous, inconstant"), from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + firmus (see firm (adj.)). Of persons, "not strong, unhealthy," first recorded c.1600. As a noun from 1711.

infirm in Medicine

infirm

[ĭn-fûrm′]

adj.

Weak in body, especially from old age or disease; feeble.