feebleminded
adjective
fee·ble·mind·ed
ˌfē-bəl-ˈmīn-dəd 
variants
or feeble-minded
1
dated, offensive
: impaired in intellectual ability : affected with intellectual disability
Note: This meaning of the word feebleminded, which is associated especially with eugenics practices of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is no longer used in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts and is considered offensive.
2
3
obsolete
: irresolute, vacillating
Examples of feebleminded in a Sentence
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That, Dovey Johnson Roundtree knew, could have immense significance for her client, a feebleminded day laborer accused of one of the most sensational murders of the mid-20th century.
—
Margalit Fox, New York Times, 21 May 2018
While the Queen is patient and nurturing with her addled husband, even making excuses for him when his erratic behavior turns violent, others in Madrid see his feebleminded unpredictability as cause for urgent replacement.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2017
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Margalit Fox, New York Times, 21 May 2018
While the Queen is patient and nurturing with her addled husband, even making excuses for him when his erratic behavior turns violent, others in Madrid see his feebleminded unpredictability as cause for urgent replacement.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near feebleminded
Cite this Entry
“Feebleminded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feebleminded. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
feebleminded
adjective
fee·ble·mind·ed
ˌfē-bəl-ˈmīn-dəd
: not having normal intelligence : mentally deficient
feeblemindedly
adverb
feeblemindedness
noun
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