WEAK Synonyms: 289 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

weak

adjective

ˈwēk

Definition of weak

as in weakened

lacking bodily strength the little boy was simply too weak to lift the box

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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as in unreasonable

not using or following good reasoning your argument is weak

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in helpless

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 If untreated, the condition causes severe symptoms such as breathing problems, weak pulse and ashen or bluish skin. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 The latest jobs report showed employers cut 23,000 jobs in July, a much weaker result than economists had anticipated. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 August is typically one of the slowest months for home sales, but this year appears to be even weaker than last year, due to stubbornly high home prices and less certainty in the overall economy. — Diana Olick, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 But in 20 years, as a result of its choice to pursue these wars, the United States may well have a less effective military force, less global influence, and even a weaker economy. — Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weak

Recent Examples of Synonyms for weak

Adjective

Now, some fear a weakened Voting Rights Act could cause those gains to be reversed, Tamar Hallerman reports.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Children under five, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of severe illness.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakened

Adjective

Quilt sets are oversized, reversible and buttery soft, made from the same smart fabric as the favorite sheets with a 100% inner cotton lining, recently named a Good Housekeeping favorite.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Expect a calm palette of neutrals and soft blues, metallic accents, and plenty of natural light, with views either west toward the mountains and desert or north up the Strip.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of soft

Adjective

Handling compliments about weight loss The pressure to be thinner is reinforced when someone loses weight, whether from a GLP-1 or any other reason.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
The depth there was already thin even before the Dexter Lawrence trade or Roy Robertson-Harris injury.

— Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

The standard is very low, and that is 'more probable than not' that this child may have been put in an unreasonable risk of harm.

— Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
In such an environment, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee has argued that the S & P 500 can climb to 8,000 over the next few weeks, a level that is not too unreasonable given that the broader index was last trading around 7,750 — only 3% away.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of unreasonable

Adjective

The wartime mood among European and American intellectuals was hopeless, or, rather, in her estimation, helpless.

— David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
And the sport — players in uniform and executives in suits alike — all march toward the cliff in shackles of their own design, seemingly helpless to find a compromise.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of helpless

Adjective

Instead of using a mirror to gather starlight, MOTHRA has many telephoto lenses, like those on a camera, which can capture faintly glowing wisps of gas and other feeble emanations across a wider field of view.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of Congress, the Government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeble

Adjective

What will happen when residents who are relatively young, active, and healthy become more frail and need higher levels of care?

— Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

— Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of frail

Adjective

Finally, the third recruits seaweed to gather minerals that are otherwise too dilute to chase.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
Clean and disinfect your pruning shears between working on each plant by dipping them into a dilute 10% solution of chlorine bleach water or rubbing alcohol.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 July 2026

Definition of dilute

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“Weak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weak. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of weak

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