faint

¹faint

adjective \ˈfānt\

Definition of FAINT

1

: lacking courage and spirit : cowardly <faint of heart>

2

: weak, dizzy, and likely to faint

3

: lacking strength or vigor : performed, offered, or accomplished weakly or languidly <faint praise>

4

: producing a sensation of faintness : oppressive <the faint atmosphere of a tropical port>

5

a : hardly perceptible : dim <faint handwriting>

b : vague 2a <haven't the faintest idea>

— faint·ish \ˈfān-tish\ adjective

— faint·ish·ness noun

— faint·ly adverb

— faint·ness noun

Examples of FAINT

1. We heard a faint noise.
2. the faint glow of a distant light
3. There was a faint smile on her lips.
4. There's just a faint chance that the weather will improve by tomorrow.
5. a faint reminder of their former greatness
6. I'd better lie down; I feel faint.
7. She felt faint from hunger.

Origin of FAINT

Middle English faint, feint, from Anglo-French, from past participle of feindre, faindre to feign, lose heart — more at feign

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FAINT

Synonyms

blear, bleary, blurry, dim, foggy, fuzzy, gauzy, hazy, indefinite, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, murky, nebulous, obscure, opaque, pale, shadowy, unclear, undefined, undetermined, vague

Antonyms

clear, definite, pellucid

Related Words

dark, dusky, gloomy; impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible; hieroglyphic (also hieroglyphical), incomprehensible, indecipherable, indiscernible, inexplicable, mysterious, obfuscatory, puzzling

Near Antonyms

bright, distinct, evident, obvious, plain; certain, firm, strong, sure

Rhymes with FAINT

feint, paint, plaint, quaint, saint, taint

²faint

intransitive verb

Definition of FAINT

1

archaic : to lose courage or spirit

2

archaic : to become weak

3

: to lose consciousness because of a temporary decrease in the blood supply to the brain

Examples of FAINT

1. He always faints at the sight of blood.
2. She almost fainted from the pain.
3. She suffers from fainting spells.

First Known Use of FAINT

14th century

Related to FAINT

Synonyms

black out, conk (out), keel (over), pass out, swoon

Antonyms

come around, come round, come to, revive

Related Words

break down, collapse; zonk (out)

³faint

noun

Definition of FAINT

: the physiological action of fainting; also : the resulting condition : syncope 1

Examples of FAINT

1. <shocking news can cause a person to fall into a faint>

First Known Use of FAINT

1792

Related to FAINT

Synonyms

blackout, insensibility, knockout, swim, swoon, syncope

Related Words

daze, stupor, trance; drowsiness, narcosis, sleep, somnolence

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic