“Feint praise” or “faint praise”: which is correct?
faint praise
The short answer
Faint praise is the correct term, meaning praise that is so weak or insubstantial that it can be construed as criticism.
Why people get it wrong
People mix up feint and faint because they sound similar, but feint is related to a deceptive move, whereas the correct word faint refers to something lacking in strength or intensity.
What kind of mistake it is
It’s a malapropism, where a word is confused with a similar-sounding word.
Examples with faint praise
- His response was met with faint praise from the committee.
- The book only received faint praise from the critics.
- She offered faint praise for the meal, saying it was ‘not the worst she’d ever had.’
Quick check
His response was met with from the committee.
Faint praise is the correct term, meaning praise that is so weak or insubstantial that it can be construed as criticism.
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