faint

[ feynt ]
/ feɪnt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR faint ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, faint·er, faint·est.

verb (used without object)

noun

a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon: to fall into a faint.

Origin of faint

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French, past participle of faindre, variant of feindre to feign

SYNONYMS FOR faint

1 indistinct, ill-defined, dim, faded, dull,
2 faltering, irresolute, weak.
3 languid.
4 pusillanimous, fearful, timid, dastardly.
6 pass out, black out.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR faint ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM faint

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH faint

fain faint feign feint

Words nearby faint

faille, failure, fain, fainaigue, fainites, faint, faintheart, fainthearted, faints, fainty, fainéant

Words related to faintness

flaw, vulnerability, lapse, lack, fragility, gap, deficiency, shortcoming, frailty, instability, failing, giddiness, vertigo, imperfection, weakness, lethargy, weariness, liking, taste, languor

Example sentences from the Web for faintness

British Dictionary definitions for faintness

faint
/ (feɪnt) /

adjective

verb (intr)

to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness
archaic, or poetic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage

noun

a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brain Technical name: syncope

Derived forms of faint

Word Origin for faint

C13: from Old French, from faindre to be idle

Medical definitions for faintness

faint
[ fānt ]

n.

An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness; an attack of syncope.

adj.

Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.

Other words from faint

faint v.

Idioms and Phrases with faintness

faint

see damn with faint praise.