foible Definition
- 1a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character
- 2the weaker part of a sword blade, from the middle to the point
Using foible: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "foible" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
One of his foibles is that he always forgets people's names.
Example
Her foible for collecting antique dolls is well-known among her friends.
Example
The sword broke at its foible during the fight.
foible Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with foible
pet foible
a minor weakness or peculiar habit that is particular to an individual
Example
Her pet foible is that she always has to have a cup of tea before bed.
foible-minded
having a weak or foolish mind
Example
He was often called foible-minded because of his tendency to make poor decisions.
play to one's foibles
to take advantage of someone's weaknesses or peculiarities for personal gain
Example
The salesman played to his customer's foibles to make the sale.
Origins of foible
from French 'faible', meaning 'weak'
Summary: foible in Brief
The term 'foible' [ˈfɔɪbəl] refers to a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character, such as forgetting people's names or collecting antique dolls. It can also refer to the weaker part of a sword blade. Phrases like 'pet foible' and 'play to one's foibles' denote individual peculiarities and taking advantage of them, respectively.
