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Fainthearted vs Feeble - What's the difference?

fainthearted | feeble | Related terms |

Fainthearted is a related term of feeble.


As adjectives the difference between fainthearted and feeble

is that fainthearted is faint of heart; irresolute; fearful while feeble is deficient in physical strength; weak; infirm; debilitated.

As a verb feeble is

(obsolete) to make feeble; to enfeeble.

fainthearted

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Faint of heart; irresolute; fearful.
  • * 1719: Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe [http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-pubeng?specfile=/texts/english/modeng/publicsearch/modengpub.o2w&act=text&offset=193841263&textreg=2&query=+fainthearted&id=DefCru1]
    • Upon this, our guide, who, by the way, was but a fainthearted fellow, bid us keep in a ready posture, for he believed there were more wolves a-coming. We kept our arms ready, and our eyes about us...
  • * 1866: Louisa May Alcott, Behind a Mask: or, A Woman's Power [http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-pubeng?specfile=/texts/english/modeng/publicsearch/modengpub.o2w&act=text&offset=59916136&textreg=1&query=+fainthearted&id=AlcBehi]
    • "Fainthearted knight! You should have stayed and covered my retreat. Hark! they are coming! Hide! Hide!" she panted, half in fear, half in merriment, as the gay pursuers rapidly drew nearer.

    Synonyms

    * afraid * cowardly * meek * timid

    Antonyms

    * brave * determined * steadfast * stouthearted

    feeble

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Deficient in physical strength; weak; infirm; debilitated.
    • Though she appeared old and feeble , she could still throw a ball.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 23 , author=Tom Fordyce , title=2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=France were transformed from the feeble , divided unit that had squeaked past Wales in the semi-final, their half-backs finding the corners with beautifully judged kicks from hand, the forwards making yards with every drive and a reorganised Kiwi line-out beginning to malfunction.}}
  • Lacking force, vigor, or efficiency in action or expression; faint.
    • That was a feeble excuse for an example.

    Synonyms

    * (physically weak) weak, infirm, debilitated * faint

    Derived terms

    * enfeeble * feebleness * feeble-minded * feebly

    Verb

    (feebl)
  • (obsolete) To make feeble; to enfeeble.

    • References

    * *