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faint - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'faint' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Faint [ n.]
- The act of fainting, or the state of one who has fainted; a swoon. [R.] See Fainting, n.
- To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.
- To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
2 . Faint [ superl.]
- Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.
- Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady."
- Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.
- Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance.
3 . Faint [ v. i.]
- To become weak or wanting in vigor; to grow feeble; to lose strength and color, and the control of the bodily or mental functions; to swoon; -- sometimes with away. See Fainting, n.
4 . Faint [ v. t.]
- To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken.

Meaning of 'faint' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . faint [ s]
Meaning (1):
- lacking clarity or distinctness
Example in sentence:
  • a dim figure in the distance;
  • a few wispy memories of childhood;
  • only a faint recollection;
  • saw a vague outline of a building through the fog;
  • shadowy figures in the gloom
Meaning (2):
- deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
Example in sentence:
  • a faint aroma;
  • a faint hissing sound;
  • a faint outline;
  • a weak pulse;
  • the faint light of a distant candle;
  • the wan sun cast faint shadows;
  • weak colors
Meaning (3):
- indistinctly understood or felt or perceived
Example in sentence:
  • a faint clue to the origin of the mystery;
  • haven't the faintest idea
Meaning (4):
- lacking strength or vigor
Example in sentence:
  • a feeble voice;
  • damning with faint praise;
  • faint resistance;
  • feeble efforts
Meaning (5):
- weak and likely to lose consciousness
Example in sentence:
  • a swooning fit;
  • felt light in the head;
  • light-headed from lack of sleep;
  • light-headed with wine;
  • suddenly felt faint from the pain;
  • was sick and faint from hunger
Meaning (6):
- lacking conviction or boldness or courage
Example in sentence:
  • faint heart ne'er won fair lady

Nearby Words:

faience fail failance failed failing faille failure fain faineant fainted

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