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Unconscious vs Faint - What's the difference?

unconscious | faint |

As adjectives the difference between unconscious and faint

is that unconscious is not awake; having no awareness while faint is lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.

As nouns the difference between unconscious and faint

is that unconscious is the unconscious mind while faint is the act of fainting.

As a verb 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).

unconscious

English

(Unconscious mind)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not awake; having no awareness.
    • She lay unconscious on the floor.
  • Without directed thought or awareness.
    • My sudden fright was an unconscious response.
  • (sports) engaged in skilled performance without conscious control.
  • * 1998 , Charles Rosen, The Cockroach Basketball League , page 144
    • Sam is unconscious , filling it, drilling it from every conceivable angle. Lem is awful and Cooper seems confused. Josh shoots too often.
  • * 1999 , Joseph Leininger, Terry Whalin, Lessons from the Pit: A Successful Veteran of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange , page 10
    • "I was unconscious ," the basketball player gushes. "It seemed like everything I threw up toward the basket went straight in."
  • * 2002 , Alexander Wolff, Big Game, Small World: A Basketball Adventure , page 292
    • Someone who has reeled off a string of baskets will say, "I was unconscious," as if he were following the Zen injunction to be mindful while suspending thought.

    Synonyms

    * insentient, oblivious, out of it, out on one's feet, unaware * (skilled performance without conscious control) in the zone, on a roll

    Noun

    (singulare tantum)
  • (psychology) The unconscious mind

    • 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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