What is a synonym for "faint"?

Common synonyms include: dim, feeble, timid, weak, abulic, achromatic.

Faint

/feɪnt/ adj, noun, verb

adj, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level

Usage: "Faint" functions as both a adjective and a noun, so context is key — make sure the surrounding sentence makes the intended meaning clear. Its core sense is: the act of fainting, syncope.

Origin: From Middle English faynt, feynt (“weak; feeble”), from Old French faint, feint (“feigned; negligent; sluggish”), past participle of feindre, faindre (“to feign; sham; work negligently”), from Latin fingere (“to touch, handle, form, shape, frame, form in thought, imagine, conceive, contrive, devise, feign”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to mold”). Cognate with feign and fiction and more distantly dough.

Watch out: Because "faint" carries multiple meanings across different parts of speech, writers sometimes use it where a more specific word like "queal" would be clearer. Check that your intended sense is unmistakable from context.

Definitions

Noun

1
The act of fainting, syncope.
"She suffered another faint."
2
a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain wordnet
3
The state of one who has fainted; a swoon. rare

Verb

1
To lose consciousness through a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions). intransitive
"A fainting fit."
2
pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain wordnet
3
To lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent. intransitive
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."
4
To decay; to disappear; to vanish. intransitive
"November 12, 1711, Alexander Pope, letter to Henry Cromwell Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye."

Adjective

1
Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to lose consciousness
"I felt faint after my fifth gin and tonic."
2
Lacking courage, spirit, or energy; cowardly; dejected.
"Faint heart ne'er won fair lady."
3
Barely perceptible; not bright, or loud, or sharp.
"There was a faint red light in the distance."
4
Performed, done, or acted, weakly; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy.
"faint efforts"
5
Slight; minimal.
"a faint chance"

Show 1 more definition

6
Sickly, so as to make a person feel faint. archaic
"Happening to pass a fruiterer’s on their way; the door of which was open, though the shop was by this time shut; one of them remarked how faint the peaches smelled."

Adjective

1
lacking conviction or boldness or courage wordnet
2
lacking clarity or distinctness wordnet
3
indistinctly understood or felt or perceived wordnet
4
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc wordnet
5
lacking strength or vigor wordnet

Show 1 more definition

6
weak and likely to lose consciousness wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

dim feeble timid weak abulic achromatic

Antonyms

All antonyms

awake bold bold headings brave

Example

More examples

"The sound of shouting grew faint."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English faynt, feynt (“weak; feeble”), from Old French faint, feint (“feigned; negligent; sluggish”), past participle of feindre, faindre (“to feign; sham; work negligently”), from Latin fingere (“to touch, handle, form, shape, frame, form in thought, imagine, conceive, contrive, devise, feign”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to mold”). Cognate with feign and fiction and more distantly dough.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fainten, feynten, from the adjective (see above).

More for "faint"

Synonyms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms Browse writing guides Explore topic clusters