feeble

Feeble is an adjective describing a lack of physical strength or vitality; it can also refer to a lack of force, effectiveness, or solidity in non-physical contexts. A feeble person is weak or frail, often due to illness, age, or injury. Feeble can describe objects or phenomena that are not strong or convincing, such as a feeble signal, a feeble argument, or a feeble effort.

Feeble is commonly used for both literal and figurative weaknesses. In everyday language, it may describe someone who is tired or unwell, or something that falls short of expectations. The adverb form is feebly, as in “he waved feebly,” and the noun form feebleness denotes the quality of being feeble.

Usage notes and nuance: While generally neutral, feeble is sometimes used evaluatively to suggest poor quality or insufficient strength. In historical or literary contexts, phrases like “feeble-minded” appear, but that expression is now considered offensive and outdated; more respectful language should be used instead.

Related terms include weak, frail, fragile, and puny, with antonyms such as strong, robust, and sturdy. Feeble imagery is common in descriptions of illness, aging, or faint, insufficient attempts.

Etymology: The word dates from Old English and has cognates in other Germanic languages, entering Middle English with its current sense of weakness. Its exact lineage is rooted in ancient concepts of lacking strength or force.