Cool MateDelicate vs Feeble
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Delicate
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Feeble
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
| Delicate | Feeble | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdelɪkət/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈfiːbəl//🇺🇸 //ˈfiːbəl// |
| Meaning | Easily broken or damaged; fragile. | Very weak or not strong |
| Example | The delicate porcelain vase shattered when it fell from the shelf. | The feeble branches swayed in the light breeze. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very | feeble attempt, feeble excuse, feeble health, feeble light |
| Antonyms | sturdy, robust, strong | strong, powerful, robust, sturdy |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'delicious' — they sound similar but have different meanings., Using 'delicate' to describe something strong or resilient., Omitting context; remember 'delicate' usually refers to physical or emotional sensitivity. | Confused with 'weak' but 'feeble' implies even less strength., Used to describe objects instead of people or actions., Mistaken to mean 'faint' or 'dim', which have different contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'delicate' to describe things that require careful handling, like fine china or fragile emotions. It’s generally appropriate in a variety of contexts but avoid using it in overly casual speech. | Use 'feeble' to describe physical weakness or lack of strength, often in a negative context. It's not used for strong, positive descriptions. |
Frequently asked questions: Delicate vs Feeble
What's the difference between Delicate and Feeble?
Delicate: Easily broken or damaged; fragile. Feeble: Very weak or not strong
Are Delicate and Feeble the same CEFR level?
Delicate: C1, Feeble: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Delicate and Feeble interchangeably?
Not always. Delicate and Feeble are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.