Synonyms of frailty

frailty

noun

ˈfrāl-tē 

1

as in weakness

a defect in character

selfishness is a common human frailty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weakness
• sin
• fault
• shortcoming
• failing
• deficiency
• foible
• sinfulness
• vice
• demerit
• feet of clay
• dereliction
• imperfection
• flaw
• evil
• stain
• want
• blot
• blemish
• minus
• corruption
• immorality
• soft spot
• wickedness
• depravity
• spot
• nit
• Achilles' heel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• virtue
• merit
• perfection
• excellence
• integrity
• goodness
• morality
• righteousness
• rectitude
• probity

2

as in exhaustion

the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor

frailty doesn't affect all elderly people, for many are indeed healthy and strong

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weakness
• exhaustion
• feebleness
• fatigue
• fragility
• infirmity
• debility
• impairment
• faintness
• debilitation
• enervation
• lowness
• injury
• frailness
• languor
• enfeeblement
• asthenia
• decay
• disablement
• listlessness
• tenderness
• languidness
• decrepitude
• wimpiness
• breakdown
• delicacy
• damage
• helplessness
• powerlessness
• impotence
• collapse
• weariness
• prostration
• softness
• lassitude
• invalidism
• harm
• incapacitation
• hurt
• defenselessness
• impuissance
• effeteness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strength
• vigor
• robustness
• hardiness
• vitality
• hardihood
• energy
• fitness
• virility
• muscularity
• toughness
• hardness
• health
• huskiness
• sturdiness
• ruggedness
• stoutness
• soundness
• lustiness
• wellness
• healthiness
• heftiness
• brawniness

3

as in softness

the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character

the frailty shown by the apostle Peter when he denied Jesus three times

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weakness
• softness
• frailness
• wimpiness
• spinelessness
• corruptness
• wimpishness
• corruption
• wishy-washiness
• flaw
• failing
• foible
• collapse
• evil
• peccadillo
• wickedness
• immorality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strength
• toughness
• fortitude
• firmness
• nerve
• mettle
• backbone
• hardihood
• resoluteness
• chutzpah
• discipline
• moxie
• goodness
• self-discipline
• hutzpah
• chutzpa
• integrity
• morality
• rectitude
• hutzpa
• righteousness
• rightness
• uprightness
• virtuousness

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

Recent Examples of frailty

And the findings help reframe frailty not as an inevitable part of old age, but as a treatable, biological condition. —New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025

While Wolves did not trouble them too much on Saturday, their pre-season game against Palermo and Club World Cup defeat to Al Hilal – in which centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly scored from a corner in extra time – exposed similar frailties. —Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

Some of the reports included in the analysis also didn’t factor in health status or frailty, which could have influenced the results. —Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 14 Aug. 2025

Like Gladys, Minnie is a witch who’s partial to heavy makeup, colorful attire, and using her age and perceived frailty to conceal her dark designs. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025