decrepit

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective decrepit contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of decrepit are feeble, fragile, frail, infirm, and weak. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

When can feeble be used instead of decrepit?

The meanings of feeble and decrepit largely overlap; however, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

When would fragile be a good substitute for decrepit?

In some situations, the words fragile and decrepit are roughly equivalent. However, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

When might frail be a better fit than decrepit?

While the synonyms frail and decrepit are close in meaning, frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

When could infirm be used to replace decrepit?

Although the words infirm and decrepit have much in common, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

In what contexts can weak take the place of decrepit?

The words weak and decrepit can be used in similar contexts, but weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decrepit One employee described decrepit office spaces overflowing with people after the Trump administration ended remote work and ordered all federal workers back to the office. Davis Winkie, USA Today, 19 May 2025 In the new version of Nosferatu, Skarsgård stars as Count Orlok, a decrepit vampire who is obsessed with Ellen Hutter (Depp) and has been haunting the woman in his dreams. Tim Lammers, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 And Answers For Saturday, May 10 Over the past sixteen years, DiBella has spent millions patching up a decrepit ballpark that has been home base for his club and the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team. Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025 Most large pieces of space junk — decrepit satellites and spent rocket bodies, for example — break apart during their fiery trips back to Earth, creating artificial meteor showers. Mike Wall, Space.com, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for decrepit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decrepit
Adjective
  • Elsewhere, though, anxiety permeates the dilapidated bars, karaoke clubs, and music halls into which Jia pokes his camera.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
  • In Los Angeles, $500,000 gets you a dilapidated hut in the hood with a permanent police siren soundtrack.
    Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • In sum, there is a weak case, at best, for some kind of standardization of non-financial KPIs.
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • Feeling Unusually Tired or Lacking Energy Protein is a crucial energy source, so when lacking, a person can feel weak and unusually exhausted—mentally, physically, or both.
    Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decrepit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decrepit. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on decrepit

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