Feeble

mediumNegative tone

FEE-bul

adjective

Definition

Lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness

Memory hook

FEE-BLE: too weak to pay even a small FEE - pathetically lacking in strength.

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Word roots

flebilislamentable(Latin)

Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.

Examples

His feeble attempts to lift the box were unsuccessful.
The elderly man's voice was feeble but determined.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

His ______ attempts to lift the box were unsuccessful.
Show answer

feeble

Synonyms

weakfrailinfirmdebilitated

Antonyms

strongrobustvigorouspowerful

Categories

View all Weakness words

GRE Tip

Feeble is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "weak" or "frail" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "strong".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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