1
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 Scrutinizers of the tape were flagging relatively weak market responses to great Taiwan Semiconductor results and Oracle's ecstatic growth outlook. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025 This is a career low point for both actors, preying on their weak spots. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025 Until then, the two sides will keep talking past each other, fluent in the language of rivalry but weak in the trust department. Lizzi C. Lee, Time, 17 Oct. 2025 The Dodgers' bullpen struggles throughout the season proved to be their weak spot heading into the playoffs, but Sasaki emerged as somewhat of a secret weapon for LA. MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weak
Adjective
  • Listeria infection can be especially dangerous for young children, elderly people and people with weakened immune systems.
    News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Soft platinum coils are delivered into the aneurysm under X-ray guidance to promote clotting and block blood flow into the weakened vessel.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Dress up your bedroom with a new seven-piece comforter set or sink into something super soft like the Bedsure fluffy comforter.
    Sheri Kaz, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Thousands of reviewers have highlighted how soft and cozy the pad feels.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead of a hearty stew of beans, meat, and spices like cumin and chili powder, Skyline or Cincinnati chili is a thinner, slightly sweet meat sauce with strong notes of cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
  • What the team found instead was a thin layer of clay, less than one-hundredth of an inch thick, which had formed on top of the animals’ skin.
    Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That seems unreasonable given how weak this group has been.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
  • This decision places an unreasonable financial burden on agencies and managers who are already navigating a fragile market.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At first, the doctor’s sympathies would be with the family, who seemed helpless given their lack of autonomy and the dictates of their circumstances.
    Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The festival unfolds at a particularly tenuous time for the documentary field, which for the past several years has faced a feeble acquisition market.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Cupping was quite popular among feeble white women in North America, and those same marks, Daria knew, were present on her own body, concealed beneath her loose T-shirt.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The figures were outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez, Santiago Carrillo, head of the Spanish Communist Party, and armed forces chief Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado who, though a frail near-70, got up to order the rebel Guards to lay down their arms.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The fate of one of the few remaining opposition figures who was still in the country depended on the frail relationship between the Cuban government and the United States.
    Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Second, a dilute hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve the remaining lithium and the transition metals—nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
  • For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.
    Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, 3 Sep. 2020

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Cite this Entry

“Weak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weak. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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