Definition

Describing a body type that is thin and lacks muscle, or relating to a state of weakness or lack of energy.

Example

The athlete had an asthenic build, which made him appear more fragile than his competitors.

Conversation

Have you noticed how asthenic some of the new players are?

Yeah, they seem really thin and not very strong yet.

I guess they need more time to build muscle and get used to the game.

Definitely! With some training, they’ll get stronger for sure.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A person who has a thin and weak body structure, often characterized by a lack of muscle and fat.

Example

The asthenic individual struggled to keep up with the more athletic members of the team.

Conversation

I met someone at the gym who had an asthenic build.

Really? What did they look like?

They were really slim and had a lot of agility.

Root Explanation

Asthenic is derived from the Greek root "astheneia" (meaning weakness) combined with the suffix "-ic" (meaning pertaining to). The term describes a condition or state related to weakness or lack of strength.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for weakness ('astheneia') to remember that 'asthenic' refers to something related to weakness.

Visually Confused Words