feebly

/ˈfiːbli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfiːbli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfēb(ə)lē -li/ (ame, mw)

feebly — adverb

1. in a way that shows very little physical strength, energy, or power — for exampl

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a way that shows very little physical strength, energy, or power — for example, someone who is ill or exhausted trying to speak, lift something, or move, or a natural force such as a flame or sound that is dying away.

例句

After the surgery, Minh could only feebly lift his arm a few centimetres off the bed.

feebly + lift [body part]

The old dog feebly wagged its tail when its owner walked through the door.

同義詞
  • weakly

    more common in everyday speech; 'feebly' adds a nuance of pathetic or pitiable weakness

  • faintly

    used mainly for sounds, lights, or smells rather than physical actions

  • softly

    focuses on low intensity rather than lack of strength

反義詞

文法句型

[verb] feebly

feebly [verb]

用法筆記

Commonly used with verbs of physical action (lift, push, speak, cough, wag). Also describes natural phenomena such as dimming light or fading sound.

常見錯誤

❌The baby feebly cried for a few seconds.
✅The baby cried weakly for a few seconds.
💡'feebly' suggests long-term weakness or exhaustion, not a brief moment of crying.
❌She feebly laughed at every joke during the party.
✅She smiled feebly at the joke, though she did not find it funny.
💡'feebly' implies an unconvincing or half-hearted reaction, not genuine amusement.

2. in a way that is not strong, convincing, or effective — for example, an argument

2.副詞C1
釋義

in a way that is not strong, convincing, or effective — for example, an argument that lacks solid evidence, an apology that seems insincere, or an attempt that falls short of what is needed.

例句

When challenged by reporters, the politician feebly defended his decision using outdated statistics.

feebly + defend [argument/decision]

Ananya smiled feebly at the joke, though she did not find it amusing at all.

feebly + smile [weak reaction]

同義詞
  • weakly

    the most direct synonym; 'feebly' can carry a slightly more critical tone

  • ineffectively

    more formal; focuses on failure to produce the desired result

  • poorly

    broader meaning; can describe general lack of quality

反義詞

文法句型

[verb] feebly

feebly [verb]

用法筆記

Typically describes actions, responses, or attempts that fail to achieve their intended purpose. Common with verbs of argument, objection, or reaction (defend, argue, protest, smile, apologise).

常見錯誤

❌He feebly ran the marathon in under three hours.
✅He ran the marathon weakly in under three hours, still exhausted from his illness.
💡'feebly' suggests the action itself is unconvincing, not just when compared to a past state.