weakness

noun

weak·​ness ˈwēk-nəs 

1

: the quality or state of being weak

also : an instance or period of being weak

backed down in a moment of weakness

2

: fault, defect

3

a

: a special desire or fondness

has a weakness for sweets

b

: an object of special desire or fondness

pizza is my weakness

Synonyms of weakness

• fatigue
• exhaustion
• feebleness
• debility
• fragility
• faintness
• frailty
• impairment
• infirmity
• asthenia
• enervation
• debilitation
• injury
• enfeeblement
• lowness
• languor
• listlessness

Examples of weakness in a Sentence

The weakness of her voice surprised me.

The incident exposed his weakness as a leader.

Some see compromise as a sign of weakness.

the weakness of a radio signal connection

the weakness of the dollar

I told them my secret in a moment of weakness.

The tutor assessed the student's strengths and weaknesses.

The basketball team has few weaknesses.

Chocolate is my greatest weakness.

He has a weakness for desserts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Reading it as weakness mistakes a maturing payment instrument for a shrinking asset class. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images Semiconductor stocks fell in premarket trading on Tuesday following weakness in Asia and Europe. — Lee Ying Shan,arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 28 July 2026

The case exposed serious weaknesses in financial oversight and shook public confidence in institutions responsible for protecting taxpayer dollars. — Malia M Cohen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026

Defenses will eventually create a book on Willis, who has a reputation as a scrambler, taking away his strengths and forcing him to lean into his weaknesses. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for weakness

• bleakness
• meekness
• uniqueness

Kids Definition

weakness

noun

weak·​ness ˈwēk-nəs 

1

: the quality or state of being weak

2

: a weak point : fault, defect

a person with few weaknesses

3

a

: a special desire or fondness

has a weakness for chocolate

b

: an object of special desire or fondness

movies are my weakness