Synonyms
Examples of infirm in a Sentence
Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 20 Mar. 2024
Our Lady of Sorrows, a hospice for infirm and dying nuns (conveniently built over ancient catacombs!), to take her vows.
—Jen Yamato, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Truth knew former slaves had no retirement plans and that the aged and infirm were particularly vulnerable to neglect.
—Cynthia Greenlee, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024
The brief itself was – was legally and constitutionally infirm.
—Liz Cheney, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2024
Good law doesn’t withhold justice from humans who are elderly or infirm, or those who are cognitively disabled.
—Elizabeth Barber, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2023
Some were waving white flags; a few of the most elderly and infirm were pushed on rudimentary carts as Israeli troops positioned on tanks watched on.
—Loay Ayyoub, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Like other effects of climate change, its harms fall most heavily on those who are poor, infirm, very young or elderly.
—Javier Panzar, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2023
In the background of the story, figures such as the ineffectual Prince George, a sybaritic regent for his infirm father, George III, and Lord Byron, the poet, who voiced his sympathy for the Luddites in Parliament, debate which side to support: owners or workers.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infirm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English, from Latin infirmus, from in- + firmus firm
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing infirm
Dictionary Entries Near infirm
Cite this Entry
“Infirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infirm. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
infirm
adjective
Medical Definition
infirm
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on infirm
Nglish: Translation of infirm for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of infirm for Arabic Speakers
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