weak

adjective

ˈwēk How to pronounce weak (audio)
Definition of weaknext
1
as in weakened
lacking bodily strength the little boy was simply too weak to lift the box

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2
as in soft
lacking strength of will or character I was too weak to resist the free doughnuts in the office break room

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3
as in thin
not containing very much of some important element the coffee came out too weak because I didn't use enough ground beans

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4
as in unreasonable
not using or following good reasoning your argument is weak

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5
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose the vice president is a relatively weak official

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a weak position
a vulnerable position
a susceptible position
an insecure position
a fragile position
a poor position
a weak economy
a feeble economy
a vulnerable economy
a fragile economy
an unstable economy
a frail economy
weak signals
poor signals
poor-quality signals
unreliable signals
insufficient signals
inadequate signals
a weak solution
an inconsistent solution
an inadequate solution
an ineffectual solution
a faulty solution
a deficient solution
a weak smile
a feeble smile
a pathetic smile
a faint smile
a limp smile
an unconvincing smile

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective weak contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of weak are decrepit, feeble, fragile, frail, and infirm. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

When is it sensible to use decrepit instead of weak?

The synonyms decrepit and weak are sometimes interchangeable, but decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

In what contexts can feeble take the place of weak?

Although the words feeble and weak have much in common, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

When might fragile be a better fit than weak?

While in some cases nearly identical to weak, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

When is frail a more appropriate choice than weak?

The meanings of frail and weak largely overlap; however, frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

Where would infirm be a reasonable alternative to weak?

The words infirm and weak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of weak Cornyn is facing a tough primary fight against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a more conservative Republican whom Democrats see as a weaker general election candidate. —Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2025 Such was the case a few years ago, when an eagle chick, smaller and weaker than its siblings, was struggling in the nest. —Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 19 July 2025 Yankees Win American League East The division that looked to be weaker early in the season could potentially produce four playoff teams. —Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025 Empire of the Elite is weaker on questions of the company’s aesthetics and editorial approaches; here Grynbaum tends to repeat the conventional wisdom, swallow the hype or, in matters of controversy, teach the debate. —Book Marks july 17, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for weak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weak
  1. thin
  2. unreasonable
  3. helpless
  4. feeble
  5. soft
  6. dilute
  7. irrational
  8. paralyzed
Adjective
  • Cover it with a thin layer of topsoil or compost to cover the seeds.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 24 July 2025
  • The market is thin in run-producing bats, and O'Hearn not only fills that need but is versatile enough to play the corner outfield spots as well.
    — Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • His exact demands are unknown but given his status as one of the world’s leading players a range of £250,000 to £300,000 a week is far from unreasonable.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 25 July 2025
  • Barbara Attard, a police accountability expert, said meet and confer can last months, but beyond a year is unreasonable.
    — Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2025
Definition of unreasonable
Adjective
  • Hosts aren’t totally helpless in the face of these wasps.
    — Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2025
  • The governor told the story of a teenage boy from Oxnard whose parents disappeared in a federal raid, despite having no criminal records, leaving their son helpless and alone.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Definition of helpless
Adjective
  • Joe Biden’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance, when the nation witnessed a hoarse and feeble president losing his train of thought and struggling to finish sentences, ended his re-election campaign.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 8 July 2025
  • Their feeble efforts fall flat, because the physical historical record dictates otherwise.
    — Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Definition of feeble
Adjective
  • Expected soft opening: August 2025 Details: 1325 Grand Ave., Suite 6, Phoenix.
    — Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2025
  • Those soft ticket sales suggest that nostalgia isn’t nearly as potent as Sony might have hoped when greenlighting the slasher sequel and reuniting the original 1998 film’s stars, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 20 July 2025
Definition of soft
Adjective
  • Vinegar, which is really dilute acetic acid, will help the milk curdle by further denaturing the whey proteins and neutralizing negative charges at the surface of casein micelles.
    — Liz Roth-Johnson, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2013
  • However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.
    — George Johnson, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2013
Definition of dilute
Adjective
  • In the case of mania, a mental health symptom where patients experience irrational self-belief and happiness, models responded correctly 80% of the time.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 13 July 2025
  • This tracks with an observation made by the journalist David Epstein, who writes in Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World that athletes from tiny towns have irrational levels of success.
    — Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Definition of irrational
Adjective
  • Carl Schulze, of Neenah, has used a wheelchair since 2007, when an accident severed his spinal cord and left him completely paralyzed.
    — Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • In June 2022, his face was left partially paralyzed following a Ramsay Hunt Syndrome diagnosis, which forced him to halt his Justice tour and then cancel it entirely.
    — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
Definition of paralyzed

Browse Nearby Words

waywardness
weak
weaken
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Cite this Entry

“Weak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weak. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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