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faint

faint

 
 
pronunciation:
feInt
parts of speech:
adjective, intransitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, verb, noun), Homophone Note, Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: adjective
inflections: fainter, faintest
definition 1: weak, feeble, or slight.
The old paint was now faint in color.Their faint efforts were not sufficient to bring about success.I have only a faint recollection of the incident.
synonyms:
feeble, pale, weak
antonyms:
intense, striking, strong, thick
similar words:
dim, dull, obscure, outside, remote, sickly, slight, small, wishy-washy
definition 2: exhausted, dizzy, or on the brink of losing consciousness.
The child was faint after going for days without food.When he saw all the blood, he felt faint.
synonyms:
dizzy, exhausted, light-headed, woozy
similar words:
giddy, light, vertiginous, weak
definition 3: lacking in courage; timid.
Are you so faint that you can't even defend yourself?
synonyms:
fainthearted, fearful, meek, timid, timorous
antonyms:
courageous
similar words:
afraid, chicken, chicken-hearted, chicken-livered, cowardly, frightened, lily-livered
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part of speech: intransitive verb
inflections: faints, fainting, fainted
definition: to lose consciousness, usu. briefly; swoon.
The news of his death was so shocking that she fainted.
synonyms:
keel over, pass out, swoon
similar words:
black out, collapse
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition: a temporary, usu. brief, loss of consciousness.
He fell in a dead faint.
synonyms:
blackout, swoon, syncope
similar words:
unconsciousness
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Homophone Note
The words faint and feint sound alike but have different meanings. To find out why a basketball player would rather feint than faint on the court, look up feint.
Word History
Faint comes from an early French word that means "cowardly" and "lacking in spirit."
Word Explorer
See
  color, fear, first aid