Trends of
feeble

View usage for:

feeble

(fiːbəl)

Word forms: comparative feebler, superlative feeblest

1. adjective

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.

The feeble light of a tin lamp.

Synonyms: weak, failing, exhausted, weakened More Synonyms of feeble

feebly adverb [ADVERB with verb]

His left hand moved feebly at his side.

2. graded adjective

If you describe someone as feeble, you are criticizing them because they are afraid of taking strong action or seem to make no effort.

[disapproval]

He said that the Government had been feeble.

...some rather feeble traditionalists.

Synonyms: inadequate, weak, pathetic, insufficient More Synonyms of feeble

3. adjective

If 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, weak More Synonyms of feeble

feebly adverb [ADVERB with verb]

I said 'Sorry', very feebly, feeling rather embarrassed.

feeble in British English

(ˈfiːbəl)

adjective

lacking in physical or mental strength; frail; weak

inadequate; unconvincing

feeble excuses

easily influenced or indecisive

Derived forms

feebleness (ˈfeebleness)

noun

feebly (ˈfeebly)

adverb

Word origin

C12: from Old French feble, fleible, from Latin flēbilis to be lamented, from flēre to weep

feeble in American English

(ˈfibəl)

adjectiveWord forms: ˈfeebler or ˈfeeblest

weak; not strong

; specif.,

infirm

a feeble old man

without force or effectiveness

a feeble light, a feeble attempt

easily broken; frail

a feeble barrier

SIMILAR WORDS: weak

Derived forms

feebleness (ˈfeebleness)

noun

feebly (ˈfeebly)

adverb

Word origin

ME feble < OFr faible, feble < L flebilis, to be wept over < flere, to weep < IE base *bhlē-, to howl > bleat, blare

Examples of 'feeble' in a sentence
feeble

The productivity performance he has inherited is particularly feeble.This is a feeble effort.We were left with a rather tame and feeble story about film production.But apparently we are too weak and feeble to survive on our own.She is still the sort of aunt who makes one feel rather feeble.Their feeble efforts this summer have added weight to the view that this tour should not have taken place.By then there were so few home fans left that the boos which greeted the final whistle were weak and feeble.The rather feeble explanation is that the promises would have taken longer to implement if they were extended to all brands.A1 per cent rise in underlying sales might seem rather feeble from a company that usually grows four times as quickly.An unusually weak and feeble recovery?

In other languages
feeble

British English: feeble ADJECTIVE

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
Brazilian Portuguese: débil
Chinese: 虚弱的
European Spanish: débil
French: faible
German: schwach
Italian: debole
Japanese: 弱い
Korean: 약한
European Portuguese: débil
Latin American Spanish: débil

Chinese translation of 'feeble'

feeble

(ˈfiːbl)

adj

(= weak) [person, animal, voice] 虚(虛)弱的 (xūruò de)
1. (= ineffectual) [attempt, excuse, argument] 无(無)力的 (wúlì de)
2. [joke] 不好笑的 (bù hǎoxiào de)

1 (adjective) in the sense of weak

Definition

lacking in physical or mental strength

While I was ill I was too feeble to even stand.

Synonyms

weak

I was too weak to move my arms and legs.

failing

exhausted

She was too exhausted even to think clearly.

weakened

delicate

He was a physically delicate child.

faint

Other signs of angina are nausea, feeling faint and shortness of breath.

powerless

frail

She lay in bed looking particularly frail.

debilitated

sickly

He had been a sickly child.

languid

He's a large languid man with a round and impassive face.

puny

Our Kevin has always been a puny lad.

weedy (informal)

a neurotic, weedy little man

infirm

my infirm husband

effete

the sun-starved looks of an effete intellectual

enfeebled

doddering

a doddering old man

enervated

Warm winds make many people feel enervated and depressed.

etiolated

shilpit (Scottish)

Opposites

strong

healthy

robust

vigorous

energetic

sturdy

hale

stalwart

hearty

lusty

2 (adjective) in the sense of inadequate

Definition

not effective or convincing

He said the Government had been feeble.

Synonyms

inadequate

She felt quite painfully inadequate in the crisis.

weak

a clash between a weak minister and a domineering civil servant

pathetic

That's the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard.

insufficient

There was insufficient evidence to proceed.

incompetent

ineffective

They are burdened with an ineffective leader.

inefficient

Some people are very inefficient workers.

lame

He mumbled some lame excuse about having gone to sleep.

insignificant

ineffectual

The ill-advised and ineffectual policies

indecisive

3 (adjective) in the sense of unconvincing

Definition

not effective or convincing

This is a feeble argument.

Synonyms

unconvincing

He was given the usual unconvincing excuses.

poor

The meal was very poor.

He was a poor actor.

thin

The evidence is thin, and to some extent, ambiguous.

weak

The evidence against him was too weak to hold up in court.

slight

It's only made a slight difference.

tame

pathetic

lame

flimsy

The charges were based on flimsy evidence.

paltry

flat

Opposites

successful

effective

forceful

Additional synonyms

in the sense of delicate

He was a physically delicate child.

Synonyms

sickly,

weak,

ailing,

frail,

feeble,

unhealthy,

debilitated,

lacklustre,

infirm,

in poor health,

indisposed

in the sense of doddering

a doddering old man

Synonyms

tottering,

aged,

weak,

shaky,

faltering,

feeble,

shambling,

senile,

decrepit,

unsteady,

infirm,

doddery,

trembly

in the sense of effete

Definition

weak, powerless, and decadent

the sun-starved looks of an effete intellectual

Synonyms

weak,

cowardly,

feeble,

ineffectual,

decrepit,

spineless,

enfeebled,

weak-kneed (informal),

enervated,

overrefined,

chicken-hearted,

wimpish or wimpy (informal)

Synonyms of 'feeble'

feeble

Explore 'feeble' in the dictionary

单词	feeble
释义	Trends of feeble View usage for: feeble (fiːbəl) Word forms: comparative feebler, superlative feeblest 1. adjective 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. The feeble light of a tin lamp. Synonyms: weak, failing, exhausted, weakened More Synonyms of feeble feebly adverb [ADVERB with verb] His left hand moved feebly at his side. 2. graded adjective If you describe someone as feeble, you are criticizing them because they are afraid of taking strong action or seem to make no effort. [disapproval] He said that the Government had been feeble. ...some rather feeble traditionalists. Synonyms: inadequate, weak, pathetic, insufficient More Synonyms of feeble 3. adjective If 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, weak More Synonyms of feeble feebly adverb [ADVERB with verb] I said 'Sorry', very feebly, feeling rather embarrassed. feeble in British English (ˈfiːbəl) adjective 1. lacking in physical or mental strength; frail; weak 2. inadequate; unconvincing feeble excuses 3. easily influenced or indecisive Derived forms feebleness (ˈfeebleness) noun feebly (ˈfeebly) adverb Word origin C12: from Old French feble, fleible, from Latin flēbilis to be lamented, from flēre to weep feeble in American English (ˈfibəl) adjectiveWord forms: ˈfeebler or ˈfeeblest weak; not strong ; specif., a. infirm a feeble old man b. without force or effectiveness a feeble light, a feeble attempt c. easily broken; frail a feeble barrier SIMILAR WORDS: weak Derived forms feebleness (ˈfeebleness) noun feebly (ˈfeebly) adverb Word origin ME feble < OFr faible, feble < L flebilis, to be wept over < flere, to weep < IE base bhlē-, to howl > bleat, blare Examples of 'feeble' in a sentence feeble The productivity performance he has inherited is particularly feeble. Times, Sunday Times (2016) This is a feeble effort. Times, Sunday Times (2016) We were left with a rather tame and feeble story about film production. Times, Sunday Times (2010) But apparently we are too weak and feeble to survive on our own. The Sun (2015) She is still the sort of aunt who makes one feel rather feeble. Times, Sunday Times (2007) Their feeble efforts this summer have added weight to the view that this tour should not have taken place. The Sun (2009) By then there were so few home fans left that the boos which greeted the final whistle were weak and feeble. The Sun (2008) The rather feeble explanation is that the promises would have taken longer to implement if they were extended to all brands. Times, Sunday Times (2010) A1 per cent rise in underlying sales might seem rather feeble from a company that usually grows four times as quickly. Times, Sunday Times (2010) An unusually weak and feeble recovery? Times, Sunday Times (2010) In the olden days you retired because you were simply too old and feeble to carry the coal to the surface any more. Times, Sunday Times (2013) She suddenly felt shy, when the little feeble light made them visible. Elizabeth Gaskell North and South (1855) It was a feeble effort from Gloucester and it could have been worse. Times, Sunday Times (2013) This is a feeble argument. Times, Sunday Times (2009) The ending is particularly feeble. Times, Sunday Times (2009) Our verdict: a feeble effort. Times, Sunday Times (2014) It was a feeble effort. Times, Sunday Times (2011) Mostly they have failed, and in the search they have awarded the jersey to a large number of rather feeble performers. Times, Sunday Times (2009) Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. Oscar Wilde The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888) Derby toyed with City's feeble efforts in the second half and were content not to take chances. The Sun (2012) In other languages feeble British English: feeble ADJECTIVE 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 Brazilian Portuguese: débil Chinese: 虚弱的 European Spanish: débil French: faible German: schwach Italian: debole Japanese: 弱い Korean: 약한 European Portuguese: débil Latin American Spanish: débil Chinese translation of 'feeble' feeble (ˈfiːbl) adj (= weak) [person, animal, voice] 虚(虛)弱的 (xūruò de) (= ineffectual) [attempt, excuse, argument] 无(無)力的 (wúlì de) [joke] 不好笑的 (bù hǎoxiào de) 1 (adjective) in the sense of weak Definition lacking in physical or mental strength While I was ill I was too feeble to even stand. Synonyms weak I was too weak to move my arms and legs. failing exhausted She was too exhausted even to think clearly. weakened delicate He was a physically delicate child. faint Other signs of angina are nausea, feeling faint and shortness of breath. powerless frail She lay in bed looking particularly frail. debilitated sickly He had been a sickly child. languid He's a large languid man with a round and impassive face. puny Our Kevin has always been a puny lad. weedy (informal) a neurotic, weedy little man infirm my infirm husband effete the sun-starved looks of an effete intellectual enfeebled doddering a doddering old man enervated Warm winds make many people feel enervated and depressed. etiolated shilpit (Scottish) Opposites strong , healthy , robust , vigorous , energetic , sturdy , hale , stalwart , hearty , lusty 2 (adjective) in the sense of inadequate Definition not effective or convincing He said the Government had been feeble. Synonyms inadequate She felt quite painfully inadequate in the crisis. weak a clash between a weak minister and a domineering civil servant pathetic That's the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard. insufficient There was insufficient evidence to proceed. incompetent ineffective They are burdened with an ineffective leader. inefficient Some people are very inefficient workers. lame He mumbled some lame excuse about having gone to sleep. insignificant ineffectual The ill-advised and ineffectual policies indecisive 3 (adjective) in the sense of unconvincing Definition not effective or convincing This is a feeble argument. Synonyms unconvincing He was given the usual unconvincing excuses. poor The meal was very poor. He was a poor actor. thin The evidence is thin, and to some extent, ambiguous. weak The evidence against him was too weak to hold up in court. slight It's only made a slight difference. tame pathetic lame flimsy The charges were based on flimsy evidence. paltry flat Opposites successful , effective , forceful Additional synonyms in the sense of delicate He was a physically delicate child. Synonyms sickly, weak, ailing, frail, feeble, unhealthy, debilitated, lacklustre, infirm, in poor health, indisposed in the sense of doddering a doddering old man Synonyms tottering, aged, weak, shaky, faltering, feeble, shambling, senile, decrepit, unsteady, infirm, doddery, trembly in the sense of effete Definition weak, powerless, and decadent the sun-starved looks of an effete intellectual Synonyms weak, cowardly, feeble, ineffectual, decrepit, spineless, enfeebled, weak-kneed (informal), enervated, overrefined, chicken-hearted, wimpish or wimpy (informal) Synonyms of 'feeble' feeble Explore 'feeble' in the dictionary*
随便看	excitedly excitedness excited state excitement exciter exciting exciting challenge exciting destination exciting discovery excitingly exciting news exciting opportunity exciton excitonic excitor excl excl. exclaim exclaimer exclamation exclamational exclamation mark exclamation-mark exclamation point exclamative

Trends offeeble

feeble

feeble in British English

feeble in American English

Examples of 'feeble' in a sentencefeeble

In other languagesfeeble

Chinese translation of 'feeble'

feeble

adj

Additional synonyms

Synonyms of 'feeble'

feeble

Trends of
feeble

Examples of 'feeble' in a sentence
feeble

In other languages
feeble