Definition of ’feeble’

Word Frequency     

feeble

(fib^əl)Word forms: feebler, feeblest1. ADJECTIVEIf you describe someone or something as feeble, you mean that they are weak.He told them he was old and feeble and was not able to walk so far.Synonyms: weak, failing, exhausted, weakened   More Synonyms of feeblefeeblyADVERB [ADV with v]His left hand moved feebly at his side.2. ADJECTIVEIf you describe something that someone says as feeble, you mean that it is not very good or convincing.This is a particularly feeble argument.Synonyms: unconvincing, poor, thin, weakMore Synonyms of feeble

feeble in American English

(ˈfibəl)ADJECTIVEWord forms: ˈfeebler or ˈfeeblestweak; not strong; specif.,a. infirma feeble old manb.  without force or effectivenessa feeble light, a feeble attemptc.  easily broken; fraila feeble barrierSIMILAR WORDS:  weakWebster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.Derived formsfeebleness (ˈfeebleness) NOUNfeebly (ˈfeebly) ADVERBWord originME feble < OFr faible, feble < L flebilis, to be wept over < flere, to weep < IE base *bhlē-, to howl > bleat, blareWord Frequency     

feeble in American English

(ˈfibəl)ADJECTIVEWord forms: -bler, -blest1. physically weak, as from age or sickness; frail2. weak intellectually or morallya feeble mind3. lacking in volume, loudness, brightness, distinctness, etca feeble voicefeeble light4. lacking in force, strength, or effectivenessfeeble resistancefeeble argumentsMost material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers LtdDerived formsfeeblenessNOUNfeeblishADJECTIVEfeeblyADVERBWord origin[1125–75; ME feble ‹ OF, var. of fleible (by dissimilation) ‹ L flēbilis lamentable, equiv. to flē(re) to weep + -bilis -ble]Word Frequency     

feeble in British English

(ˈfiːb^əl)ADJECTIVE1. lacking in physical or mentalstrength; frail; weak2. inadequate; unconvincingfeeble excuses3. easilyinfluenced or indecisive

Trends of feeble

View usage over:  Since Exist Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years 

Derived forms feebleness (ˈfeebleness) NOUNfeebly (ˈfeebly) ADVERBWord originC12: from Old French feble, fleible, from Latin flēbilis to be lamented, from flēre to weep

In other languages: feeble

British English: feeble  adjective /ˈfiːbl/If you describe someone or something as feeble, you mean that they are weak.He told them he was old and feeble and was not able to walk so far.

• American English: feeble  /ˈfibəl/
• Brazilian Portuguese: débil 
• Chinese: 虚弱的
• European Spanish: débil 
• French: faible 
• German: schwach 
• Italian: debole 
• Japanese: 弱い
• Korean: 약한
• European Portuguese: débil 
• Spanish: débil 
• Thai: อ่อนแอ

Translate your text for free