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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun frailty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of frailty are failing, fault, foible, and vice. While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

When would failing be a good substitute for frailty?

The words failing and frailty can be used in similar contexts, but failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

In what contexts can fault take the place of frailty?

The words fault and frailty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

When can foible be used instead of frailty?

While the synonyms foible and frailty are close in meaning, foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

When is it sensible to use vice instead of frailty?

The synonyms vice and frailty are sometimes interchangeable, but vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of frailty Defensive frailties cannot be entirely blamed on player exits given the attacking roles Summerville and Rutter occupied, but the changing mood in the stands at Elland Road is hard to ignore. Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024 The frailty of Giants quarterbacks in the post-Eli Manning era should strengthen the two-time Super Bowl MVP’s Hall of Fame résumé. Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024 Or will they be filled with chronic illness and frailty? Jonathan Rauch, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024 No single side has convinced with contenders like RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt also showing frailties. Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for frailty 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frailty
Noun
  • But Price acknowledged that the case revealed multiple weaknesses in how police handled homicide investigations at the time, leading to widespread reforms that remain in place today.
    Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
  • This will involve complete assessments of endpoints, employee training, or network access controls that represent the weaknesses.
    William Jones, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The fires have left Mayorga with a painful mix of anxiety, depression and exhaustion.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
  • And burnout isn’t just a trendy buzzword; this is a very real, very draining state of exhaustion that dims your spark.
    Ankur Bindal, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Even after a 10-7 regular season and return to the playoffs — albeit a brief one after Sunday’s wild-card loss to Buffalo — established a new benchmark for success, the sins of the past lingered in the coach’s mind.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025
  • But the sin of this particular series is one that's hard to get over: deep unpleasantness.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Our experience was a mix of magic and misery, to no fault of Fort Wilderness.
    Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
  • As Laviolette said, that’s not solely the defenseman’s fault.
    Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Woll showing signs of fatigue This isn’t a surprise given Woll entered this season having played just 36 regular-season games in the NHL.
    James Mirtle, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • In a landscape of dating app fatigue and romance scams, the anachronistic-seeming personals section — which is thriving in Vermont — can look like the way of the dating future.
    Wendy Lu, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • To make up for the shortcomings of the I.C.C. and the ad-hoc tribunals, lawyers in Europe and elsewhere have increasingly turned to a legal principle known as universal jurisdiction, which empowers national courts to prosecute offenders in a more bottom-up and decentralized way.
    Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025
  • However, the shortcomings of Schoen have come with the roster’s development.
    Tyler Small, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near frailty

Cite this Entry

“Frailty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frailty. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on frailty

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