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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun frailty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of frailty are failing, fault, foible, and vice. While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

When would failing be a good substitute for frailty?

The words failing and frailty can be used in similar contexts, but failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

In what contexts can fault take the place of frailty?

The words fault and frailty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

When can foible be used instead of frailty?

While the synonyms foible and frailty are close in meaning, foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

When is it sensible to use vice instead of frailty?

The synonyms vice and frailty are sometimes interchangeable, but vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

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 frailty In this case, the particular frailty Raskin concentrated on is the natural unconscious human tendency to form habitual behaviors. Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025 Low levels are linked to frailty, weaker bones, belly fat, insulin resistance and higher cardiovascular risk – all hallmarks of aging. New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2025 Only those with mental frailty would land there. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Thomas Samson | Afp | Getty Images Heading into another vote of confidence next week, France now unexpectedly finds itself unfavorably compared to Italy, a country previously renowned for political upheaval and economic frailty. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frailty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frailty
Noun
  • Ancelotti and Zidane certainly had their own tactical ideas, but were also pragmatic and based game plans primarily on the characteristics (strengths and weaknesses) of the squad made available to them.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The Dodgers' bullpen is one of their weaknesses, meaning the team is asking a lot from starters.
    Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Her troubles—sleepless nights, endless exhaustion—could simply be the result of young parenthood.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Trade timing & outlook After breaking out to new all-time highs, momentum appears overextended, and signs of buyer exhaustion suggest a potential pullback.
    Tony Zhang, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The tragic death of the Sepulveda family patriarch calls his descendants back to Villa Sepulveda, a Spanish colonial manor in a coconut plantation; but a landslide traps the guests inside, transforming the funeral plans into a supernatural reckoning of sins.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Once, there were two sweet kids who came of age in the evangelical purity culture of the 1990’s, a world in which being LGBTQ+ or accepting anyone who was gay was seen as a sin that could send you straight to hell.
    Kelly Foster Lundquist, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, when asked who is to blame, 58% of those surveyed said both Disney and Google are equally at fault, while 37% point the finger at Disney and 5% blame Google.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Some of them have not been his fault.
    Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • As a solution to the problem of fatigue, two extra changes has been the footballing equivalent of throwing a glass of water onto a chip pan fire.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • The tactic is basically authoritarianism through fatigue.
    Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The carbon market has been beset by shortcomings and subject to accusations of greenwashing, however.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Chinese commentators acknowledged the shortcomings, stating that the test revealed the robots did not perform well in defensive situations.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Frailty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frailty. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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