Word forms: comparative meeker, superlative meekest
adjective
If you describe a person as meek, you think that they are gentle and quiet, and likely to do what other people say.
He was a meek, mild-mannered fellow.
...the meekest and most docile of people.
Synonyms: submissive, soft, yielding, gentle More Synonyms of meek
meeklyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Most have meekly accepted such advice.
'Thank you, Peter', Amy said meekly.
The meek are people who are meek.
The meek shall inherit the earth.
meeknessuncountable noun
Synonyms: spinelessness, resignation, weakness, tameness More Synonyms of meek
Synonyms: submissiveness, resignation, submission, compliance More Synonyms of meek
More Synonyms of meek
meek in British English
(miːk)
adjective
1.
patient, long-suffering, or submissive in disposition or nature; humble
2.
spineless or spiritless; compliant
3. an obsolete word for gentle
Derived forms
meekly (ˈmeekly)
adverb
meekness (ˈmeekness)
noun
Word origin
C12: related to Old Norse mjūkr amenable; compare Welsh mwytho to soften
meek in American English
(mik)
adjective
1.
patient and mild; not inclined to anger or resentment
2.
too submissive; easily imposed on; spineless; spiritless
3. Obsolete
gentle or kind
Derived forms
meekly (ˈmeekly)
adverb
meekness (ˈmeekness)
noun
Word origin
ME meke (earlier meoc) < ON miukr, pliant, gentle < IE base *meug-, *meuk-, to slip, slippery, slimy > muck, L mucus, Gr myxa
Examples of 'meek' in a sentence
meek
We had a period today that was a bit meek and mild and we have to cut those periods out.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Why couldn't I have just been a meek little rabbit?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It looked like a pretty meek surrender.
The Sun (2007)
He and his mother are quiet and meek.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
People now realise this meek little mouse can roar if she wants.
The Sun (2012)
Instead of that, just a meek and lowly man riding upon the foal of a donkey.
Christianity Today (2000)
He asked us to learn from Him to be meek and humble of heart.
Bertodano, Theresa (ed.) Daily Readings with Mother Theresa (1993)
His beautiful, booming voice had transformed this meek man into a powerful, soulful star.
The Sun (2011)
So it's knockout rugby, not for the meek and mild.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In court, Can tried to act meek and mild.
The Sun (2009)
I care not a jot if the great Republic pursues its meek and compliant subjects to the ends of the earth.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But he would be well advised to think hard about going to Villa Park based on this meek surrender.
The Sun (2012)
It is fair to say that in their presence I tended to be quiet, almost meek.
Frankie Dettori with Jonathan Powell FRANKIE: The Autobiography of Frankie Dettori (2004)
Quotations
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earthBible: St. Matthew
It's going to be fun to watch and see how long the meek can keep the earth after they inherit itKin Hubbard
In other languages
meek
British English: meek ADJECTIVE
If you describe a person as meek, you think that they are gentle and quiet, and likely to do what other people say.
He was a meek, mild-mannered fellow.
American English: meek
Brazilian Portuguese: manso
Chinese: 温顺的
European Spanish: dócil
French: doux
German: sanftmütig
Italian: mite
Japanese: 従順な
Korean: 얌전한
European Portuguese: manso
Latin American Spanish: dócil
Chinese translation of 'meek'
meek
(miːk)
adj
温(溫)顺(順)的 (wēnshùn de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
quiet, and ready to do what other people say
He was a meek, mild-mannered fellow.
Synonyms
submissive
Most doctors want their patients to be submissive.
soft
yielding
His personality was sometimes prickly, sometimes yielding.
gentle
a quiet and gentle man who liked sports and enjoyed life
peaceful
modest
He's modest, as well as being a great player.
mild
He is a mild man, reasonable almost to the point of blandness.
patient
humble
Ashok was a humble, courteous and gentle man.
timid
A timid child, she had learnt obedience at an early age.
long-suffering
compliant
a docile and compliant workforce
unassuming
She has a gentle, unassuming manner.
unpretentious
docile
deferential
forbearing
acquiescent
The other men were acquiescent but he had an independent streak.
Opposites
submissive
,
forward
,
spirited
,
proud
,
bold
,
arrogant
,
feisty (informal)
,
wilful
,
bossy
,
domineering
,
overbearing
,
presumptuous
,
immodest
,
self-assertive
2 (adjective)
He may be self-effacing, but he certainly isn't meek.
Synonyms
spineless
bureaucrats and spineless politicians
weak
a clash between a weak minister and a domineering civil servant
tame
a tame and gullible newspaper journalist
boneless
weak-kneed (informal)
spiritless
unresisting
wussy (slang)
wimpish or wimpy (informal)
Quotations
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth [Bible: St. Matthew]It's going to be fun to watch and see how long the meek can keep the earth after they inherit it [Kin Hubbard]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acquiescent
The other men were acquiescent but he had an independent streak.
Synonyms
submissive,
agreeing,
accepting,
approving,
yielding,
consenting,
accommodating,
conforming,
agreeable,
meek,
assenting,
obedient,
compliant,
amenable,
acceding,
concurrent,
ingratiating,
malleable,
deferential,
pliant,
obsequious,
tractable,
unresisting,
bootlicking (informal),
obeisant
in the sense of compliant
a docile and compliant workforce
Synonyms
obedient,
willing,
accepting,
yielding,
obliging,
accommodating,
passive,
cooperative,
agreeable,
submissive,
conformist,
deferential,
acquiescent,
complaisant,
conformable,
accordant,
assentient,
consentient
in the sense of gentle
Definition
soft
a quiet and gentle man who liked sports and enjoyed life
Synonyms
kind,
loving,
kindly,
peaceful,
soft,
quiet,
pacific,
tender,
mild,
benign,
humane,
compassionate,
amiable,
meek,
lenient,
placid,
merciful,
kind-hearted,
sweet-tempered,
tender-hearted,
dove-like
Nearby words of
meek
meditative
medium
medley
meek
meekness
meet
meet someone halfway
Synonyms of 'meek'
meek
Explore 'meek' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of humble
Definition
conscious of one's failings
Ashok was a humble, courteous and gentle man.
Synonyms
modest,
meek,
unassuming,
unpretentious,
submissive,
self-effacing,
unostentatious
in the sense of mild
Definition
gentle or temperate in character, climate, or behaviour
He is a mild man, reasonable almost to the point of blandness.
Synonyms
gentle,
kind,
easy,
soft,
pacific,
calm,
moderate,
forgiving,
tender,
pleasant,
mellow,
compassionate,
indulgent,
serene,
easy-going,
amiable,
meek,
placid,
docile,
merciful,
peaceable,
forbearing,
equable,
easy-oasy (slang),
chilled (informal)
in the sense of modest
Definition
shy or easily embarrassed
He's modest, as well as being a great player.
Synonyms
unpretentious,
simple,
reserved,
retiring,
quiet,
shy,
humble,
discreet,
blushing,
self-conscious,
coy,
meek,
reticent,
unassuming,
self-effacing,
demure,
diffident,
bashful,
aw-shucks
in the sense of tame
Definition
(of a person) tending to do what one is told without questioning or criticizing it
a tame and gullible newspaper journalist
Synonyms
submissive,
meek,
compliant,
subdued,
manageable,
obedient,
docile,
spiritless,
unresisting
in the sense of timid
Definition
indicating shyness or fear
A timid child, she had learnt obedience at an early age.
Synonyms
nervous,
shy,
retiring,
modest,
shrinking,
fearful,
cowardly,
apprehensive,
coy,
diffident,
bashful,
mousy,
timorous (literary),
pusillanimous (formal),
faint-hearted,
irresolute,
afraid
in the sense of unassuming
Definition
modest or unpretentious
She has a gentle, unassuming manner.
Synonyms
modest,
quiet,
humble,
meek,
simple,
reserved,
retiring,
unpretentious,
unobtrusive,
self-effacing,
diffident,
unassertive,
unostentatious
in the sense of weak
Definition
lacking in moral strength
a clash between a weak minister and a domineering civil servant
Synonyms
ineffectual,
pathetic,
cowardly,
powerless,
soft,
impotent,
indecisive,
infirm,
spineless,
boneless,
timorous (literary),
weak-kneed (informal),
namby-pamby,
irresolute
in the sense of yielding
Definition
compliant or submissive
His personality was sometimes prickly, sometimes yielding.