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“Faint” or “Feint”

Overview

faint / feint are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

faint: (noun) a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain. (verb) pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain. (adjective) deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc. (adjective) lacking strength or vigor. (adjective) weak and likely to lose consciousness. (adjective) indistinctly understood or felt or perceived. (adjective) lacking conviction or boldness or courage.

feint: (noun) any distracting or deceptive maneuver (as a mock attack). (verb) deceive by a mock action.

Pronunciation

faint: f·EY·n·t

feint: f·EY·n·t

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Examples in Context

Examples of “faint”

  • (opisthosoma) with a series of faint light-colored chevron markings.
  • through intersystem crossing and very faint fluorescence.
  • Gordon writes that Kinnoull "being faint for lack of meat, and
  • but the color is usually faint and only noticeable upon close
  • if one looks carefully, two faint side bands.
  • to right himself, he became faint from the escaping gas and
  • It is a faint star that requires good viewing
  • a misnomer used for the faint flashes of lightning on the
  • have brown forewings with a faint pattern of light and dark
  • the naked eye as a faint, yellow-hued point of light with

Examples of “feint”

  • the Normandy landings were a feint and the main Allied invasion
  • William T. Sherman conducted a feint against Confederate units holding the
  • Ellington Feint: a mysterious girl with green


(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)


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