feeble
gb/fˈibəl/ us/fˈibəl/
B1
English
~ 3200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
physically weak
Not strong in the body; weak and without much energy.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is feeble
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'feeble' with 'frail'. While both mean weak, 'frail' often refers to delicate structure as well as weakness, especially in older people.
Synonyms
weak (More general term for lacking strength; 'feeble' can sound slightly more critical or emphasize extreme weakness.)
Antonyms
strong (Indicates having power or force, the opposite of lacking strength.)
Collocations
feeble attempt
|feeble old man
|feeble body
|feeble grip
Themes
health
|daily life
|body
Examples
- After the long illness, he felt feeble and could barely stand.
- She managed only a feeble smile before falling asleep.
- The patient’s feeble grip worried the doctor.
- He gave a feeble push, but the door didn’t move.
- Her voice was feeble from days without speaking.
Learner examples
- The old man is very feeble.
- After the run, I felt feeble.
- She is too feeble to carry the box.
- His hands are feeble from sickness.
adjective
B2
property
2
ineffective or unimpressive
Not good enough to have any real effect; not strong or convincing.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is feeble
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with physical weakness. In this meaning, 'feeble' describes ideas, actions, or efforts rather than bodies.
Synonyms
ineffective (Focuses on not producing the desired result, without necessarily implying physical weakness.)
Antonyms
powerful (Suggests strong effect or influence, opposite of weak or unimpressive.)
Collocations
feeble excuse
|feeble argument
|feeble attempt
|feeble joke
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They offered a feeble excuse for being late.
- His feeble attempt at humor fell flat.
- The proposal received only a feeble response from the audience.
- That’s a feeble argument; you need more evidence.
- She made a feeble effort to hide her disappointment.
Learner examples
- He made a feeble excuse for missing class.
- The joke was feeble and nobody laughed.
- Her plan was feeble and did not work.
- They gave a feeble answer to the question.
Grammar
Dictionary form
feeble
IPA
GB/fˈibəl/
US/fˈibəl/
Syllables & stress
feeble (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (feeble)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: feeble
- Comparative: feebler
- Superlative: feeblest
Word family
Expressions
a feeble attempt
1/ə fˈibəl ətˈɛmpt/
fixed phrase
weak or poor effort
An action that is not strong and probably will not work.
Examples
- She made a feeble attempt to start the old car.
- His feeble attempt at climbing was stopped by the rain.
a feeble excuse
1/ə fˈibəl ɪkskjˈus/
fixed phrase
weak or unconvincing excuse
A bad reason that does not explain well why something happened.
Examples
- That’s a feeble excuse for not finishing your homework.
- He gave a feeble excuse about forgetting his wallet.
a feeble joke
1/ə fˈibəl d͡ʒˈoʊk/
fixed phrase
weak or unfunny joke
A joke that is not funny or clever.
Examples
- He told a feeble joke that made no one laugh.
- Her feeble joke was met with silence.