foible

/ˈfɔɪbəl/

/ˈfɔɪbəl/

Other forms: foibles

If you repeat foible out loud enough times, it sounds so funny that you can laugh at it and maybe remember to laugh at the odd and distinctive weaknesses of others — the foible or two or a hundred that we all have.

Sometimes a foible helps make a person who they are, even if the foible, or weakness ("feeble" is a close relative), is a little odd. Synonyms for foible in a negative sense are "failing," "shortcoming," and in a more positive sense "quirk," "eccentricity." It can likewise be annoying or endearing. Most people have a foible, or idiosyncrasy, that stands out to others, but interestingly, a person rarely sees his or her own characteristic foible.

Definitions of foible

1. noun

   a minor weakness or peculiarity in someone's character
   synonyms: idiosyncrasy, mannerism

   type of:

   distinctiveness, peculiarity, speciality, specialness, specialty

   a distinguishing trait
2. noun

   the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip
   type of:

   part, portion

   something less than the whole of a human artifact