le débile

Definition & meaning

1. Stupid or idiotic: describes a person, action, or idea considered foolish. When directed at a person, it is insulting.
2. Weak or frail: an older or formal meaning, especially referring to physical weakness.
3. Person with an intellectual disability: an outdated medical use. It is now considered offensive and should be avoided.

Grammar & Word origin

• Adjective: The form is the same for masculine and feminine: un raisonnement débile (a stupid argument), une idée débile (a stupid idea). The plural is débiles.
• Noun: Un débile or une débile means “an idiot” and is insulting.
• From Latin debilis, meaning “weak” or “frail.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

• stupide ↗ — “stupid”; generally less colloquial.
• idiot ↗ — “idiotic” or “idiot”; also used as an insult.
• absurde ↗ — “absurd”; describes something unreasonable rather than a person’s intelligence.
• faible ↗ — “weak”; a synonym for the older physical sense.

Antonyms

• intelligent ↗ — “intelligent” or “clever.”
• sensé ↗ — “sensible”; especially suitable for ideas or actions.
• robuste ↗ — “strong” or “sturdy”; contrasts with the physical sense.

Common phrases & collocations

• C’est débile. ↗ — “That’s stupid.”
• Une idée débile. ↗ — “A stupid idea.”