What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Enfeebled vs Imbecile - What's the difference?

enfeebled | imbecile | Related terms |

As a verb enfeebled

is past tense of enfeeble.

As a noun imbecile is

a person with limited mental capacity who can perform tasks and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five to seven-year-old child.

As an adjective imbecile is

destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.

enfeebled

English

Verb

(head)
  • (enfeeble)

    • enfeeble

    English

    Verb

    (enfeebl)
  • To make feeble.
  • * 2014 , Michael White, " Roll up, roll up! The Amazing Salmond will show a Scotland you won't believe", The Guardian , 8 September 2014:
    • In the face of enfeebled , self-harming opposition on both sides of the border (and a miserable economic recession on both sides too) he has performed brilliantly.
  • * 1774, Dr Samuel Johnson, Preface to the Works of the English Poets , J. Nichols, Volume II, Page 130,
    • "...the gout, with which he had long been tormented, prevailed over the enfeebled powers of nature."

    Synonyms

    * weaken

    imbecile

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A person with limited (l) (l) who can perform (l) and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five to seven-year-old child.
  • (pejorative) A .

    • Usage notes

    * In modern times, “imbecile” is often used in (l) (l).

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * imbecilic (adjective) * imbecility (noun)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (dated) Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.
    • hospitals for the imbecile and insane