# feeble

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈfiːbəl/ · frequency rank #22,082

## Definitions
1. Deficient in physical strength.
2. Lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness in action or expression; faint.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Anglo-Norman feblebor.
Middle English feble
English feeble
From Middle English feble, from Anglo-Norman feble (“weak, feeble”) (compare French faible), from Latin flēbilis (“tearful, mournful, lamentable”) by dissimilation, from fleō (“to weep, cry”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-. Doublet of foible.

## Easily confused with
- **feel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feeble-vs-feel)
- **feels** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feeble-vs-feels)
- **feely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feeble-vs-feely)
- **female** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feeble-vs-female)
- **fumble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feeble-vs-fumble)
- **freebie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/feeble-vs-freebie)
- **fable** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fable-vs-feeble)

## Common misspellings (8)
`efeble`, `febele`, `feble`, `feebble`, `feebel`, `feeblle`, `feelbe`, `ffeeble`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/feeble