meek
MEEK
/miːk/
Quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive or compliant.
Can be positive (gentle patience under trial) or negative (lacking courage or forcefulness).
The story behind the word. The word arrived in English from the Vikings' Old Norse term 'mjúkr', which originally described physical softness, like soft leather or flexible wood. In Middle English, it shifted from physical pliancy to mental and behavioral gentle compliance.
Word relationships
- submissive: Submissive emphasizes yielding to authority or control, whereas meek highlights a quiet, gentle temperament.
- humble: Humble is a noble virtue free of pride; meek can imply a dangerous lack of assertiveness.
- assertive: Assertive means confident and forceful in stating claims or rights.
- defiant: Defiant means openly rebellious and resisting authority.
Commonly confused with
- weak: Weak implies lack of physical or mental strength, whereas meek refers to a mild, non-aggressive attitude.
Word family
- meekness (noun): The quality of being meek.
- meekly (adverb): In a meek or submissive manner.
Collocations
- meek acceptance
- meek response
- meek compliance
- mild and meek
Idioms & expressions
- as meek as a lamb
Example sentences
- "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Biblical scripture
- "He was too meek to object when his supervisor assigned him all the weekend shifts." Workplace description
Memory hook
MEEK rhymes with WEAK, but means mild, quiet, and easily pushed. Meek is gentle like a sheep.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a confident, authoritative leader who simply speaks softly.
Fun facts
- In ancient Greek philosophy, the term translated as 'meek' (praos) referred to a powerful warhorse that had been disciplined—meaning strength under complete control!
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