Standard Lemma guide

feebly

adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈfiːbli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: F IY1 B L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a feeble manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a halting and feeble manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • reform, in fact, is, rather feebly, on the win

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a faint and feeble manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the lighthouse, flashing feebly against the sleet-blurred, rocky backdrop of the coast of north west Norway

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English febly; equivalent to feeble + -ly, euphonically blending -le and -ly. Compare nimbly, nobly, and Latinate -ably and -ibly.