weaker; weakest
1
: lacking strength: such as
a
: deficient in physical vigor : feeble, debilitated
b
: not able to sustain or exert much weight, pressure, or strain
c
: not able to resist external force or withstand attack
d
: easily upset or nauseated
a weak stomach
2
a
: mentally or intellectually deficient
b
: not firmly decided : vacillating
c
: resulting from or indicating lack of judgment or discernment
d
: not able to withstand temptation or persuasion
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
3
: not factually grounded or logically presented
a weak argument
4
a
: not able to function properly
weak eyes
b(1)
: lacking skill or proficiency
tutoring for weaker students
(2)
: indicative of a lack of skill or aptitude
history was my weakest subject
c
: wanting in vigor of expression or effect
a weak translation of the poem
5
a
: deficient in the usual or required ingredients : dilute
weak coffee
b
: lacking normal intensity or potency
a weak radio signal
a weak strain of virus
6
a
: not having or exerting authority or political power
weak government
7
a
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb or verb conjugation that in English forms the past tense and past participle by adding the suffix -ed or -d or -t
b
of a noun or adjective declension in Germanic languages : retaining a lesser number of distinctions in case, number and gender
8
a
: bearing the minimal degree of stress occurring in the language
a weak syllable
b
: having little or no stress and obscured vowel sound
'd in he'd is the weak form of would
9
: tending toward a lower price or value
a weak market
a weak dollar
10
: ionizing only slightly in solution
weak acids and bases
weakly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for weak

weak, feeble, frail, fragile, infirm, decrepit 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

feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or disabling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

Examples of weak in a Sentence

He has a weak throwing arm. The illness left her too weak to stand up. The child was born with weak lungs. The batter hit a weak ground ball. She uttered her reply in a weak voice. The door's hinge is weak.
Recent Examples on the Web Values have come down, and certain segments of it, like office space, are weaker than others. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 That’s because the rule is much weaker than its original version, which was first published in March 2022. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Many Haitians saw him as at best weak, negligent, and silent in the face of abuses against his people. Amy Wilentz, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 In any event, Chiarello’s story did little to assuage reservation holders already worried about buying a truck with apparent structural defects like misaligned panels, not to mention potentially weak performance metrics. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 The new rules are weaker than what the SEC initially proposed in March 2022, which would have included a fuller picture of a company’s carbon footprint. Justine Calma, The Verge, 6 Mar. 2024 The new rules are much weaker than those originally proposed. Sehoon Kim, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2024 The attacks have demoralized an already weak police force, said Esperance, noting that rank-and-file officers have abandoned some posts and are no longer taking orders from superiors. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Also, the visual understanding of the most powerful AI models is still much weaker than that of most humans. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weak.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English weike, from Old Norse veikr; akin to Old English wīcan to yield, Greek eikein to give way, Sanskrit vijate he speeds, flees

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of weak was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near weak

Cite this Entry

“Weak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weak. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

weak

adjective
1
a
: lacking physical strength
b
: easily upset or nauseated
a weak stomach
2
: not able to stand much weight, pressure, or strain
a weak rope
3
a
: lacking strength of mind or character
b
: resulting from or showing a lack of mental or moral firmness
a weak policy
4
: not rich in some usual or important element
weak tea
5
: not able to stand the test of logic
a weak argument
6
: lacking skill or ability
weak in math
7
: lacking in force of expression
a weak writing style
8
: not having or using authority
weak government
9
: of, relating to, or being a verb or verb conjugation that forms the past tense and past participle by adding the suffix -ed or -d or -t
10
: of, relating to, or being the lightest of three levels of stress in pronunciation
a weak syllable
11
: ionizing only slightly in solution
weak acids
weakly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on weak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!