Word
feeble
Phoneticsfee·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfibəɫ/
UK/fˈiːbəl/
Definitions
01physically weak
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very weak and without much physical strength, often because of age or illness.
adj. deficient in physical strength or vitality, typically due to senescence, pathology, or exhaustion.
“The patient was too feeble to sit up in bed without help from the nurse.”
“After weeks of fever, the old man was left in a feeble state, barely able to lift a spoon to his mouth.”
02lacking force or power
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not strong or effective, like a quiet sound, a dim light, or a bad excuse.
adj. lacking intensity, force, or effectiveness in action or expression.
“He made a feeble excuse for being late, but nobody believed him.”
“The torch emitted only a feeble beam of light that failed to penetrate the thick fog surrounding the hikers.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Etymology tree Anglo-Norman feblebor. Middle English feble English feeble From Middle English feble, from Anglo-Norman feble (“weak, feeble”) (compare French faible), from Latin flēbilis (“tearful, mournful, lamentable”) by dissimilation, from fleō (“to weep, cry”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-. Doublet of foible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/feeble