infirm
Frail from illness
Infirm means weak or feeble, especially from age or illness: an infirm elderly patient, too infirm to climb the stairs.
The word often appears in contexts of care and vulnerability.
An infirmary is a place where the sick or injured receive treatment.
Infirm can also describe something unstable or unsound: an infirm foundation, infirm reasoning.
Weak and ineffective
- frailWeak and breakable
- weakLacking power or force
- enfeebledMade weak or feeble
- debilitatedMade weak or infirm
fragile · delicate · unsteady · shaky · wobbly · faltering · trembling · tottering
Prone to poor health
invalid · bedridden · indisposed · afflicted · stricken · feverish · languishing · incapacitated
Requiring outside support
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- powerlessLacking strength or authority
- helplessUnable to act independently
- incapacitatedMade unable to act
disabled · handicapped · impaired · prostrate · immobilized · paralyzed · crippled · lame
Lacking firmness of purpose
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- hesitantSlow to act
uncertain · faltering · unsteady · weak-willed · fickle · unstable · shaky · doubtful
Advanced in years
venerable · gray-haired · silver-haired · octogenarian · nonagenarian · doddering · tottery · superannuated
feeble
Weak and ineffective
debilitated · fragile · delicate · unsteady · shaky · wobbly · faltering · trembling · tottering · decrepit
sickly
Prone to poor health
diseased · invalid · bedridden · indisposed · afflicted · stricken · feverish · languishing · incapacitated · convalescent
dependent
Requiring outside support
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- powerlessLacking strength or authority
- helplessUnable to act independently
incapacitated · disabled · handicapped · impaired · prostrate · immobilized · paralyzed · crippled · lame · bedridden
irresolute
Lacking firmness of purpose
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
hesitant · uncertain · faltering · unsteady · weak-willed · fickle · unstable · shaky · doubtful · tentative
aged
Advanced in years
ancient · venerable · gray-haired · silver-haired · octogenarian · nonagenarian · doddering · tottery · superannuated · declining
- weakweak, feeble, frail, fragile, faint
- invalidsinvalid, invalids, bedridden, incapacitated, patient
- Poor Lawworkhouse, workhouses, poorhouse, poorhouses, parish relief
- age descriptorsaged, elderly, old, young, youthful
- sicknesssick, ill, unwell, ailing, diseased
- incapacitatedunconscious, knocked out, out cold, passed out, comatose
infirmfirm
Solid or resolute
resolute · steadfast · determined · unwavering · decisive