faint
faint Lexical Profile
faint Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Barely perceptible to the senses; lacking clarity, brightness, loudness, or strength.
"The astronomers detected a faint signal coming from a distant galaxy."
Feeling weak, dizzy, and close to losing consciousness.
"After standing in the hot sun for two hours without water, she began to feel faint."
Very slight, small, or unlikely (used especially of a hope, chance, or possibility).
"There is still a faint hope that the missing hikers will be found before nightfall."
Lacking conviction, enthusiasm, boldness, or courage.
"The critic Damned the new play with faint praise in the morning review."
• verb
To lose consciousness for a short time because of a temporarily insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.
"Several members of the choir nearly fainted from the heat inside the crowded hall."
To grow weak or lose courage and energy (archaic or literary).
"The travelers were urged to press onward and never faint in their resolve."
• noun
A sudden, temporary loss of consciousness caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.
"The sudden drop in blood pressure caused her to fall into a dead faint."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'faint' with its homophone 'feint', which means a deceptive or distracting movement (especially in sports or fencing) or to make a mock attack.
• Rhymes for faint
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'feint' or 'faint', borrowed from Old French 'feint' (sluggish, cowardly, or pretended), the past participle of 'feindre' (to feign or hesitate), from Latin 'fingere' (to shape or contrive).