weakness

weakness

noun

Definition of WEAKNESS

1

the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor <the flu left me with such overwhelming weakness that I could hardly stand>

Synonyms asthenia, debilitation, debility, delicacy, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, fragility, frailness, frailty, infirmity, languidness, languor, listlessness, lowness, wimpiness

Related Words decay, decrepitude; breakdown, collapse, prostration; exhaustion, fatigue, lassitude, weariness; defenselessness, helplessness, impotence, impuissance, powerlessness; effeteness, softness, tenderness; disablement, incapacitation, invalidism; damage, harm, hurt, impairment, injury

Near Antonyms energy, vitality; brawniness, fitness, heftiness, huskiness, lustiness, muscularity, virility; hardness, ruggedness, stoutness, sturdiness, toughness; health, healthiness, soundness, wellness

Antonyms hardihood, hardiness, robustness, strength, vigor

2

the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character <in a moment of weakness he shoplifted the comic book>

Synonyms frailness, frailty, softness, spinelessness, wimpiness, wimpishness, wishy-washiness

Related Words collapse; failing, flaw, foible, peccadillo; evil, immorality, wickedness; corruption, corruptness

Near Antonyms discipline, self-discipline; goodness, integrity, morality, rectitude, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtuousness

Antonyms backbone, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), firmness, fortitude, hardihood, mettle, moxie, nerve, resoluteness, strength, toughness

3

a defect in character <his one weakness is his cockeyed optimism about everything>

Synonyms demerit, dereliction, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weakness

Related Words blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickedness

Near Antonyms excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness

Antonyms merit, virtue

4

the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent <the devastating weakness of the immune system that is experienced by people with AIDS>

Synonyms defenselessness, vulnerability, weakness

Related Words helplessness, powerlessness; passiveness, passivity; feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity; exposure, liability, openness, predisposition, proneness, sensitivity; receptiveness, receptivity; easiness, gullibility, naïveté (also naivete or naivet{eacute}); credulity, credulousness

Near Antonyms immunity; impenetrability, indomitability, indomitableness, invincibility

Antonyms invulnerability