Weak vs. Feeble — What's the Difference?

Weakness generally refers to a reduced level of strength, durability, or potency in various contexts, such as physical strength, arguments, or materials. It indicates a lesser degree of force or effectiveness compared to what is considered standard or expected. Feebleness, on the other hand, connotes a more pronounced and often chronic condition of weakness, especially emphasizing frailty or ineffectiveness in physical health, often due to age, illness, or long-standing debility. It implies a level of weakness that significantly impairs normal function or effectiveness.

In the physical realm, being weak might mean a temporary state of reduced strength, perhaps due to fatigue or a minor illness, which can be recovered from relatively quickly. Feebleness, however, is often associated with a more persistent state of weakness, frequently related to aging or chronic illness. It suggests a fragility and a diminished capacity for physical exertion or resistance to stressors.

When applied to non-physical attributes, such as arguments or character traits, weakness still denotes a lack of robustness or convincing power but does not inherently imply an underlying debility. In contrast, describing a non-physical attribute as feeble might suggest that it is not only unconvincing but also lacks the vigor or substance necessary to be taken seriously at all, often due to a fundamental deficiency or inadequacy in its nature or structure.