feebly

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

feebly — 副詞

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

1.副詞B2
釋義

微弱地

缺乏力氣或能量的方式

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.

手術後，Minh 只能微弱地將手臂抬高幾公分離開床面。

feebly + lift [body part]

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

那隻老狗在主人進門時微弱地搖了搖尾巴。

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

無力地

無效或不佳的方式

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When challenged by reporters, the politician feebly defended his decision using outdated statistics.

面對記者質疑時，那名政客用過時的統計資料無力地為自己的決定辯護。

feebly + defend [argument/decision]

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

Ananya 聽了笑話後無力地笑了一下，儘管她一點也不覺得好笑。

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.