meek Hear it!

meek Definition

meek (mēk)

adjective

  1. patient and mild; not inclined to anger or resentment
  2. too submissive; easily imposed on; spineless; spiritless
  3. Obsolete gentle or kind

Etymology: ME meke (earlier meoc) < ON miukr, pliant, gentle < IE base *meug-, *meuk-, to slip, slippery, slimy > muck, L mucus, Gr myxa

meek Related Forms

meek′ly adverb meek′·ness noun

meek Synonyms

meek

modif.

  1. Humble

    unassuming, plain, mild; see humble 1, modest 2.

  2. Long-suffering

    passive, resigned, serene; see patient 1.

  3. Lacking spirit

    submissive, compliant, subdued; see docile, resigned.

meek Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • earth: The people of God are ordinarily called the humble and meek of the earth.
  • heart: Instead it is the poor, the lowly the meek of heart to whom these special insights have been revealed.

Preposition: as

lamb: The player who proves to be as meek as a lamb always ends up in a stew.

Modifies a noun

  • will: Let us hope that the meek will indeed, inherit the earth!
  • man: Jesus was no meek, subdued broken man at this point.
  • soul: Can her meek soul my father's rage encounter?
  • spirit: All the more complete and beautiful was her meek spirit of obedience.
  • creature: Comment on the phrase " meek mild creatures " .
  • surrender: For once I'd prefer death or glory, rather than meek surrender.

Modifying Another Word

  • very: Yet again, we meet a very meek group, from Salford Univ, who were camping next to us.
  • not: Others are bold and firm, but not meek and gentle.
  • too: Lynn Farleigh's convincing matriarch, however, towers over the all too meek and still daughters.
  • quite: Indeed, I felt quite meek, compared to the reaction of the audience.

Used with adjective complement

seem: He seemed very meek at the time, so I thought, " Aha, here's someone I can boss around.