Skip to main content
debile

debile

1 9.9
Weak in the body and having little strength
  • adjective
  • /ˈdɛbɪl/
  • Archaic
: débil
  • The debile patient found it difficult to perform even simple tasks without assistance.

Examples

  • After months of illness, he remained debile and unable to resume his usual activities.

  • The debile patient struggled to stand up.

  • She spoke with a debile voice, barely audible in the quiet room.

  • After the illness, she felt quite debile.

  • After months of illness, he remained debile and unable to resume his usual activities.

  • The debile patient found it difficult to perform even simple tasks without assistance.

  • She spoke with a debile voice, barely audible in the quiet room.

Synonyms

weak
vsdebile
315 1.0

Not strong in body or muscles and easily tired

is the same but highlights bodily and muscular vitality specifically
impaired
vsdebile
66 4.4

Not working well because of damage or weakness

focuses on lacking bodily or muscular strength not specific functional damage
anemic
vsdebile
  • US
27 5.7

Weak and showing little strength or energy

specifies bodily and muscular lack of vitality rather than low spirit
fatigued
vsdebile
23 4.1

Feeling very tired and having no energy

refers to a more stable lack of bodily or muscular strength rather than temporary tiredness
feeble
vsdebile
16 3.9

Physically or mentally weak and low in energy

emphasizes bodily or muscular weakness rather than general tiredness
infirm
vsdebile
  • Formal
11 6.1

Weak in body, often because of old age or illness

focuses on bodily and muscular weakness without stressing age as cause
decrepit
vsdebile
9 7.0

A living thing that is very weak and thin from old age or long illness

refers to lacking muscular vitality without implying long wear or age
debilitated
vsdebile
5 7.0

Very weak and lacking energy because of illness or injury

focuses on lacking bodily or muscular vitality rather than specific causes
sapless
vsdebile
1 9.5

Being dry and without life or energy

denotes physical muscular weakness more directly and literally
rickety
vsdebile
1 7.0

Physically weak, often with shaky or bent legs

covers general lack of bodily strength rather than instability of parts
unmuscled
vsdebile
1 6.5

Having little physical strength and not looking strong

describes weakness more generally, not only low muscle bulk
doddered
vsdebile
1 9.1

Weak and unsteady because of old age

expresses lacking bodily strength without stressing unsteadiness or age
adynamic
vsdebile
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Physically weak and without energy, often after an illness

is a general physical weakness without the technical medical framing

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Having great power or influence over people

800 1.0

In good body and mind condition without sickness or injury

16 3.8

Full of energy and enthusiasm

How Weak

incapacitated
28 6.3
debilitated
5 7.0
debile
  • Archaic
1 9.9
feeble
16 3.9
weak
315 1.0

Surface Forms

debilitate positive
debilitated comparative
debilitating superlative

Etymology

Debile comes from the Latin word debilis, which meant 'weak', and the same root appears in the English verb debilitate, 'to make weak'. So debile today means physically weak or lacking strength.