Dizzy vs Faint - What's the difference?

As adjectives the difference between dizzy and faint

is that dizzy is having a sensation of whirling, with a tendency to fall; giddy; feeling unbalanced or lightheaded while faint is lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.

As verbs the difference between dizzy and faint

is that dizzy is to make dizzy, to bewilder while faint is to lose consciousness. Caused by a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of a suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).

As a noun faint is

the act of fainting.

dizzy

English

Alternative forms

* dizzie (obsolete)

Adjective

(er)

Having a sensation of whirling, with a tendency to fall; giddy; feeling unbalanced or lightheaded.

I stood up too fast and felt dizzy .

* Drayton

Alas! his brain was dizzy .

Producing giddiness.

We climbed to a dizzy height.

* Macaulay

To climb from the brink of Fleet Ditch by a dizzy ladder.

* 1918 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), Chapter IX

...faintly from the valley far below came an unmistakable sound which brought me to my feet, trembling with excitement, to peer eagerly downward from my dizzy ledge.

empty-headed, scatterbrained or frivolous

My new secretary is a dizzy blonde.

* Milton

the dizzy multitude

Derived terms

* dizzily * dizziness * dizzyingly

Verb

To make dizzy, to bewilder.

*, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.161:

Let me have this violence and compulsion removed, there is nothing that, in my seeming, doth more bastardise and dizzie a wel-borne and gentle nature.

* Sir Walter Scott

If the jangling of thy bells had not dizzied thy understanding.

* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=September 7, author=Dominic Fifield, work=The Guardian

, title= England start World Cup campaign with five-goal romp against Moldova , passage=So ramshackle was the locals' attempt at defence that, with energetic wingers pouring into the space behind panicked full-backs and centre-halves dizzied by England's movement, it was cruel to behold at times. The contest did not extend beyond the half-hour mark.}}

faint

English

Adjective

(er)

Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.

Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed.

"Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Robert Burns - To Dr. Blackjack.

Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.

Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance.

* Sir J. Davies

the faint prosecution of the war

* 2005 , .

do you have the faintest understanding of what they mean?

Derived terms

* damn with faint praise

Noun

(en noun)

The act of fainting.

(rare) The state of one who has fainted; a swoon.

Verb

(en verb)

To lose consciousness. Caused by a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of a suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).

* Bible, Mark viii. 8

If I send them away fasting they will faint by the way.

* Guardian

Hearing the honour intended her, she fainted away.

To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.

* Bible, Proverbs xxiv. 10

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

To decay; to disappear; to vanish.

* Alexander Pope

Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye.

Synonyms

* pass out * queal * swoon

External links

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Anagrams

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