meek
adjective
ˈmēk 
1
: enduring injury with patience and without resentment : mild
a meek child dominated by his brothers
2
: deficient in spirit and courage : submissive
"I don't care," came the meek reply
Annetta Miller
Annetta Miller3
: not violent or strong : moderate
his delivery varied from a meek, melodic patter to rapid-fire scriptural allusions Bob Trebilcock
Bob Trebilcock meekly adverb
Synonyms
- demure
- down-to-earth
- humble
- lowly
- modest
- unassuming
- unpretentious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a meek child dominated by his brothers She may seem meek and mild but it is all an act.
Recent Examples on the Web Seeing Ever start as a very meek character and then get not only physically powerful, but also emotionally and mentally powerful, was great. Angela Dawson, Forbes, 1 June 2022 Peer pressure, Jacobin, and celebrity activists are far more effective than the typical meek-mannered professor dressed in plaid. Aron Ravin, National Review, 3 Apr. 2022 Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers is out, wrapping an exhausting Green Bay Packers season with a meek exit on a snowy night in Wisconsin. Jason Gay, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2022 Hoffman, who died in 2014, was credible as smart or dumb people, as self-aware or obtuse, as powerful or weak, jolly or sad, brave or cowardly, bold or meek, quiet or loud. Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 31 Mar. 2021 But for upset parents like Ms. Thavakumar, such measures are far too meek to address more entrenched problems, including a nearly complete lack of Black teachers in the district. New York Times, 27 Nov. 2021 In the episode, Harmon’s mother, Stefani Harmon, described her as a shy child whose meek and mild behavior blossomed into a cool swagger. NBC News, 13 Oct. 2021 That’s why his meek performance in Game 4 was so surprising. oregonlive, 31 May 2021 Our protagonist, Patience Phillips, is a meek and mousy graphic designer — congrats to the stylist who managed to make Halle Berry appear even slightly frumpy — at a cosmetics company, Hedare Beauty. Muna Mire, Vulture, 26 May 2021 See More
Angela Dawson, Forbes, 1 June 2022 Peer pressure, Jacobin, and celebrity activists are far more effective than the typical meek-mannered professor dressed in plaid. Aron Ravin, National Review, 3 Apr. 2022 Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers is out, wrapping an exhausting Green Bay Packers season with a meek exit on a snowy night in Wisconsin. Jason Gay, WSJ, 24 Jan. 2022 Hoffman, who died in 2014, was credible as smart or dumb people, as self-aware or obtuse, as powerful or weak, jolly or sad, brave or cowardly, bold or meek, quiet or loud. Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 31 Mar. 2021 But for upset parents like Ms. Thavakumar, such measures are far too meek to address more entrenched problems, including a nearly complete lack of Black teachers in the district. New York Times, 27 Nov. 2021 In the episode, Harmon’s mother, Stefani Harmon, described her as a shy child whose meek and mild behavior blossomed into a cool swagger. NBC News, 13 Oct. 2021 That’s why his meek performance in Game 4 was so surprising. oregonlive, 31 May 2021 Our protagonist, Patience Phillips, is a meek and mousy graphic designer — congrats to the stylist who managed to make Halle Berry appear even slightly frumpy — at a cosmetics company, Hedare Beauty. Muna Mire, Vulture, 26 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse mjūkr gentle; akin to Welsh esmwyth soft
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
meek
adjective
ˈmēk
meeker; meekest
: having or showing a quiet, gentle, and humble nature
a meek child
a meek reply
meek
adjective
as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness a meek girl who quietly went along with whatever her circle of friends wanted Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- humble
- modest
- timid
- unassuming
- unaffected
- demure
- lowly
- shy
- naive
- quiet
- subdued
- submissive
- unpretentious
- unassertive
- passive
- acquiescent
- simple
- deferential
- unaggressive
- down-to-earth
- resigned
- compliant
- reserved
- cowering
- mousy
- diffident
- bashful
- sheepish
- plain
- introverted
- cringing
- yielding
- ingenuous
- retiring
- unobtrusive
- mousey
- shrinking
- naïve
- self-effacing
- self-deprecating
- aw-shucks
- overmodest
- self-deprecatory
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- arrogant
- haughty
- imperious
- aggressive
- supercilious
- conceited
- bumptious
- pompous
- egotistical
- superior
- assertive
- uppity
- impudent
- pretentious
- presumptuous
- confident
- bold
- lordly
- huffy
- peremptory
- uppish
- cocky
- egotistic
- brash
- brassy
- cheeky
- impertinent
- saucy
- audacious
- chesty
- smug
- forward
- overweening
- presuming
- overconfident
- cocksure
- dominant
- highfalutin
- vain
- hifalutin
- narcissistic
- prideful
- domineering
- self-assertive
- egocentric
- hubristic
- boastful
- huffish
- self-asserting
- bombastic
- high-and-mighty
- overbearing
- high-handed
- egoistical
- disdainful
- egoistic
- vainglorious
- condescending
- toplofty
- swaggering
- hoity-toity
- flamboyant
- fastuous
- showy
- patronizing
- self-confident
- toploftical
- high-hat
- dominating
- stuck-up
- self-contented
- outgoing
- self-satisfied
- ostentatious
- self-centered
- extroverted
- self-conceited
- self-complacent
- self-engrossed
- self-obsessed
- uninhibited
- magisterial
- extraverted
- self-important
- self-pleased
- swelled-headed
- self-affected
- unreserved
- immodest
- braggy
- self-congratulatory
- pontificating