feebler
ˈfē-b(ə-)lər 
; feeblest
ˈfē-b(ə-)ləst
; feeblest
ˈfē-b(ə-)ləst
1
a
: markedly lacking in strength
a feeble old man
b
: indicating weakness
taking only feeble steps
2
a
: deficient in qualities or resources that indicate vigor, authority, force, or efficiency
a feeble argument
cities are growing uncreative and feeble—
Jane Jacobs
Jane Jacobs
b
: inadequate, inferior
a feeble excuse
Synonyms
Examples of feeble in a Sentence
She's still feeble from her long illness.
We heard a feeble cry for help.
Business is suffering because of the feeble economy.
He made a feeble attempt to explain his behavior.
He offered a feeble excuse for his behavior.
“Dislike” is too feeble a word for how she feels about him.
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Recent Examples on the Web
The insult leads to shoving, Knight says, and shoving leads to a couple of feeble punches.
—Ken Armstrong, ProPublica, 22 Nov. 2023
Two months later, after a voyage covering 2.2 billion miles, Psyche will be close enough to be captured by the asteroid's feeble gravity.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2023
In the majority of medieval and Renaissance-age stories, dragon-slayers dueled dragons to take their treasure or to free the feeble from their terrible wrath.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023
These may be the twilight months of Israel’s longest-serving leader, then, a feeble coda to two decades’ worth of power and bluster and ego.
—Ruth Margalit, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023
Britain, for its part, is battling stubbornly high inflation, feeble economic growth and a rising public debt burden, which is the costliest to service among rich economies.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023
Early survey data suggests that Britain’s bout of feeble economic growth has continued beyond the second quarter.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 11 Aug. 2023
And, although Minhaj did very publicly criticize Kushner at the Time 100 Gala for the Trump Administration’s feeble response to Saudi human-rights violations, there was no ceremonial seat set aside for an activist, let alone one that Kushner sat in.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023
But his makeshift levee was feeble, the little rivers were growing, and the storm was expected to get much worse.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2023
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Ken Armstrong, ProPublica, 22 Nov. 2023
Two months later, after a voyage covering 2.2 billion miles, Psyche will be close enough to be captured by the asteroid's feeble gravity.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2023
In the majority of medieval and Renaissance-age stories, dragon-slayers dueled dragons to take their treasure or to free the feeble from their terrible wrath.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023
These may be the twilight months of Israel’s longest-serving leader, then, a feeble coda to two decades’ worth of power and bluster and ego.
—Ruth Margalit, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023
Britain, for its part, is battling stubbornly high inflation, feeble economic growth and a rising public debt burden, which is the costliest to service among rich economies.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023
Early survey data suggests that Britain’s bout of feeble economic growth has continued beyond the second quarter.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 11 Aug. 2023
And, although Minhaj did very publicly criticize Kushner at the Time 100 Gala for the Trump Administration’s feeble response to Saudi human-rights violations, there was no ceremonial seat set aside for an activist, let alone one that Kushner sat in.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023
But his makeshift levee was feeble, the little rivers were growing, and the storm was expected to get much worse.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feeble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing feeble
Dictionary Entries Near feeble
Cite this Entry
“Feeble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feeble. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
feeble
adjective
fee·ble
ˈfē-bəl
feebler
-b(ə-)lər
; feeblest
-b(ə-)ləst
; feeblest
-b(ə-)ləst
1
: lacking in strength or endurance
2
: not forceful or loud
a feeble cry
a feeble attempt
More from Merriam-Webster on feeble
Nglish: Translation of feeble for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of feeble for Arabic Speakers
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