infirm

[ in-furm ]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: weak

   Antonyms: strong

2. unsteadfast, faltering, or irresolute, as persons or the mind; vacillating:

   infirm of purpose.

   Synonyms: indecisive

   Antonyms: strong

3. not firm, solid, or strong:

   an infirm support.

   Synonyms: unsteady, shaky, tottering, rickety, weak

   Antonyms: strong

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

   Synonyms: weak

verb (used with object)

1. to invalidate.

infirm

/ ɪnˈfɜːm /

adjective

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

      the infirm

2. lacking moral certainty; indecisive or irresolute
3. not stable, sound, or secure

   an infirm claim

   an infirm structure

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

Derived Forms

• inˈfirmly, adverb
• inˈfirmness, noun

Other Words From

• in·firmly adverb
• in·firmness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of infirm¹

1325–75; Middle English infirme < Latin infirmus. See in- ³, firm ¹

Example Sentences

Conservatorships are supposed to be reserved for seriously infirm or elderly people with dementia.

From ProPublica

Petrie prides himself on being the youngest and least infirm among them, but they all share the predicament of having little purpose left in life and no place else to go.

From Washington Post

Such sores can develop when an infirm person remains in the same position for too long in a bed or wheelchair.

From ProPublica

Coronavirus cases and deaths in Virginia, Maryland and the DistrictThe early assumption that the virus would devastate only the elderly and the infirm has unraveled over eight months.

From Washington Post

We have great-grandmothers in their nineties, we have parents and in-laws who are in their seventies and medically a little more infirm—it just didn’t make sense to bring lots of people together in the sort of way that we would usually do.

From Popular-Science

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.

From The Daily Beast

Was the infirm old soldier, perhaps, taking Obama to task for the scandals in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?

From The Daily Beast

Are we unfairly neglecting the up-and-coming in favor of the old and infirm?

From The Daily Beast

This created a good incentive for the other justices to lobby the infirm one to step down.

From The Daily Beast

I get sick when I hear of the charities obliterated and the old and infirm investors who are left with nothing.

From The Daily Beast

I do not intend to vex or grieve you by any conduct of mine; nor do I mean to leave you, now you are both infirm and old.

From Project Gutenberg

In addition there were several buildings devoted to the care of the aged, the infirm, and the sick.

From Project Gutenberg

Governmental care of the unemployed, the infant and the infirm, sounds like a chapter in socialism.

From Project Gutenberg

When that did not avail, its use was limited to feasts, banquets and sacrifices, and to guests and infirm old age.

From Project Gutenberg

It is probable that his infirm health and his isolated position were his protection.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ailing
• anemic
• decrepit
• feeble
• frail
• ill
• insecure
• unstable