adj
Uncommon
feeble
FEE-buhl
Feeble (adj) means Physically weak, lacking strength. Example: “The old man's feeble legs could barely support him.”
adj
1
Physically weak, lacking strength.
"The old man's feeble legs could barely support him."
2
Lacking force or effectiveness; weak in impact.
"His feeble excuse fooled no one."
"The feeble light from the candle barely lit the room."
How to use feeble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWeak — whether physically weak, or a weak attempt, excuse, or argument.
Common pairings
feeble attempt
feeble excuse
feeble voice
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- feebles
- Past tense
- feebled
- Comparative
- feebler
- Superlative
- feeblest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old man's _____ legs could barely support him.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman feble, ultimately from Latin flebilis, "tearful, pitiable" — a doublet of the word foible.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for feeble
See all rhymes for feeble →Frequently asked questions
What does “feeble” mean?
The word “feeble” means physically weak, lacking strength. In plain terms, weak — whether physically weak, or a weak attempt, excuse, or argument.
How do you pronounce “feeble”?
“Feeble” is pronounced FEE-buhl (/ˈfiːbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “feeble” in a sentence?
Here is “feeble” used in a sentence: “The old man's feeble legs could barely support him.”
What part of speech is “feeble”?
“Feeble” is an adjective.
Where does the word “feeble” come from?
The word “feeble” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman feble, ultimately from Latin flebilis, "tearful, pitiable" — a doublet of the word foible.
Is “feeble” a common word?
“Feeble” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “feeble” have?
“Feeble” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: physically weak, lacking strength.
