Definitions
- Describing someone who is weak or ill, often due to old age or chronic illness. - Referring to a person who is unable to perform daily activities without assistance. - Talking about a person who is physically or mentally weak and vulnerable.
- Describing someone who is physically weak or delicate, often due to age or illness. - Referring to a person who is easily injured or susceptible to illness. - Talking about a person who is fragile or delicate in appearance or constitution.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe physical weakness or vulnerability.
- 2Both words can be used to describe elderly people or those with chronic illnesses.
- 3Both words suggest a need for assistance or care.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Infirm suggests a more severe level of weakness or illness than frail.
- 2Duration: Infirm implies a more long-term or chronic condition, while frail can refer to a temporary or short-term state.
- 3Connotation: Infirm has a more negative connotation, suggesting a sense of helplessness or incapacity, while frail can have a more neutral or even positive connotation, suggesting a sense of delicacy or vulnerability.
- 4Usage: Infirm is less commonly used than frail in everyday language.
Remember this!
Infirm and frail are synonyms that both describe physical weakness or vulnerability. However, infirm suggests a more severe and chronic condition, while frail can refer to a temporary or short-term state. Additionally, infirm has a more negative connotation, while frail can have a more neutral or even positive connotation.
