Feeble Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Published on September 21, 2025
Feeble means lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness. e.g., After his illness, his steps were feeble and unsteady.
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Feeble Definitions
Lacking strength; weak.
The feeble plant struggled to survive in the harsh sunlight.
Frail or delicate in health.
The feeble old dog could barely stand.
Not convincing or persuasive.
His excuses were feeble and did not impress his teacher.
Lacking vigor or effectiveness.
The feeble light of the candle barely illuminated the room.
Lacking enthusiasm or energy.
Her feeble smile did not reach her eyes.
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Easily broken or damaged; fragile.
The feeble branches snapped under the weight of the snow.
Ineffectual or insufficient in force, quantity, or quality.
They made a feeble attempt to solve the problem.
Mentally weak or lacking in resilience.
He was too feeble to withstand the criticism.
Slight or insignificant; not noticeable.
There was a feeble knock on the door.
Faint or dim; lacking brightness or loudness.
The feeble sound of the distant music was barely audible.
Lacking bodily strength; weak
Too feeble to climb the hill.
Having little intensity or strength; faint
Feeble light.
A feeble voice.
Having little capacity to withstand pressure or strain
The castle's feeble defenses.
Lacking vigor or effectiveness; inadequate
A feeble attempt to apologize.
Showing little activity
A feeble housing market.
Deficient in physical strength.
Though she appeared old and feeble, she could still throw a ball.
Lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness in action or expression; faint.
That was a feeble excuse for an example.
(obsolete) To make feeble; to enfeeble.
Deficient in physical strength; weak; infirm; debilitated.
Carried all the feeble of them upon asses.
Wanting force, vigor, or efficiency in action or expression; not full, loud, bright, strong, rapid, etc.; faint; as, a feeble color; feeble motion.
To make feble; to enfeeble.
Shall that victorious hand be feebled here?
Pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness;
A feeble excuse
A lame argument
Lacking strength or vigor;
Damning with faint praise
Faint resistance
Feeble efforts
A feeble voice
Lacking physical strength or vitality;
A feeble old woman
Her body looked sapless
Lacking strength;
A weak, nerveless fool, devoid of energy and promptitude
Feeble Snonyms
Ineffectual
Not producing any significant or desired effect.
The team's efforts were ineffectual against the competition.
Faint
Barely perceptible; very slight or light.
The faint sound of the bell signaled the end of the period.
Frail
Physically weak and delicate.
The frail kitten was the smallest of the litter.
Lackluster
Lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring.
The performance was lackluster and failed to captivate the audience.
Insufficient
Not enough; inadequate.
The evidence provided was insufficient for a conviction.
Fragile
Easily broken or damaged; not strong or sturdy.
The fragile vase must be handled with care.
Infirm
Physically weak, especially as a result of age or illness.
Despite his infirm condition, he maintained a positive outlook.
Delicate
Easily damaged or broken; fine or light in texture or structure.
The delicate fabric required gentle washing.
Weak
Lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks; lacking physical strength and energy.
After the surgery, she felt weak and tired.
Timid
Showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened.
The timid child hid behind her mother's legs.
Feeble Idioms & Phrases
A feeble excuse
A poor or unconvincing excuse.
His feeble excuse did not explain his absence.
Feeble attempt
A weak or unsuccessful try.
Her feeble attempt at humor fell flat.
Feeble-minded
Lacking mental strength or intelligence.
feeble-minded
A feeble effort
An attempt made with little energy or enthusiasm.
The team's feeble effort resulted in a loss.
Feeble light
A very weak or dim light.
By the feeble light of the moon, they found their way home.
Feeble laugh
A weak or soft laugh.
His joke only elicited a feeble laugh from the audience.
Feeble voice
A very weak, quiet, or timid voice.
She answered in a feeble voice, barely audible over the phone.
Feeble-mindedness
An outdated and offensive term referring to a person with intellectual disabilities.
Feeble-mindedness
Feeble resistance
Weak or ineffective opposition.
The invaders met with feeble resistance from the villagers.
Feeble argument
An argument that is weak and easily refuted.
His feeble argument did not convince the jury.
Feeble smile
A weak or insincere smile.
She greeted him with a feeble smile, hiding her true feelings.
Make a feeble joke
To tell a joke that lacks humor or fails to amuse.
He made a feeble joke that did not lighten the mood.
Feeble health
Poor or weak health condition.
Her feeble health prevented her from traveling.
Offer a feeble explanation
To give a weak or insufficient explanation.
He offered a feeble explanation for the missing funds.
In a feeble state
Being in a condition of weakness or frailty.
He was in a feeble state after the fever.
Feeble-spirited
Lacking courage or strength of character.
Despite being feeble-spirited, he mustered the courage to speak out.
Feeble-minded excuse
A very poor or unconvincing excuse.
She dismissed his feeble-minded excuse with a wave of her hand.
Feeble wind
A very light or gentle breeze.
The feeble wind could not cool the sultry night.
Feeble steps
Slow and unsteady walking due to weakness.
After the long journey, he approached with feeble steps.
Feeble Example Sentences
They could only manage a feeble response to the accusations.
The old man's grip was feeble and shaky.
The feeble beam of the flashlight barely lit the path.
Her voice was feeble from the illness.
His feeble attempt to lift the box was unsuccessful.
The plant's feeble growth was due to poor soil.
She gave a feeble nod, barely acknowledging the question.
A feeble cheer erupted from the small crowd.
The feeble structure collapsed under the heavy snow.
With a feeble wave, he said goodbye.
The feeble economy showed no signs of improvement.
He made a feeble joke, trying to lighten the mood.
His feeble health has been a concern for many years.
Her feeble efforts to learn the language were admirable.
The feeble rays of the sun struggled to penetrate the clouds.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called feeble?
It is called feeble because it describes a condition of lacking strength or vitality, derived from Latin "flēbilis" meaning lamentable or weeping, indicating weakness.
How is feeble used in a sentence?
Feeble is used to describe something that is very weak or lacking in strength. e.g., His feeble grasp could hardly hold the pen.
What is a stressed syllable in feeble?
The stressed syllable in feeble is the first syllable, "fee".
How many syllables are in feeble?
Feeble has two syllables.
What is the root word of feeble?
The root word of feeble is the Latin "flēbilis," which means lamentable or weeping.
What is the singular form of feeble?
Feeble does not have singular or plural forms as it is an adjective; it modifies nouns.
What part of speech is feeble?
Feeble is an adjective.
How do we divide feeble into syllables?
Feeble is divided into syllables as fee-ble.
What is the verb form of feeble?
Feeble is an adjective; it does not have a verb form. However, "weaken" could be considered a related verb in context.
Is feeble a countable noun?
Feeble is not a noun; it is an adjective.
Is the word feeble imperative?
Feeble, being an adjective, cannot be imperative.
Which determiner is used with feeble?
Determiners like "a," "the," and "some" can be used with feeble depending on the context.
What is the pronunciation of feeble?
Feeble is pronounced as /ˈfiː.bəl/.
What is the opposite of feeble?
The opposite of feeble is strong or robust.
Is feeble an abstract noun?
No, feeble is an adjective, not a noun.
Is feeble a negative or positive word?
Feeble is generally considered a negative word as it denotes weakness or lack of strength.
What is another term for feeble?
Another term for feeble is weak.
Is feeble a noun or adjective?
Feeble is an adjective.
Which conjunction is used with feeble?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used in sentences involving feeble.
Which article is used with feeble?
The articles "a" or "the" can be used with feeble depending on the context.
What is the plural form of feeble?
As an adjective, feeble does not have a plural form.
Is feeble an adverb?
No, feeble is not an adverb.
Is feeble a collective noun?
No, feeble is an adjective, not a noun.
Is the word “feeble” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Feeble, as an adjective, cannot be a direct or indirect object.
Which vowel is used before feeble?
The vowel "e" is used at the beginning of feeble.
Is feeble a vowel or consonant?
The word feeble starts with a vowel.
Is the feeble term a metaphor?
Feeble can be used metaphorically to describe something that lacks strength or effectiveness.
Is the word feeble Gerund?
No, feeble is not a gerund; it is an adjective.
Which preposition is used with feeble?
Prepositions such as "in," "with," and "by" can be used with feeble, depending on the context.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
