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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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a weak position
a vulnerable position
a susceptible position
an insecure position
a fragile position
a poor position
a weak economy
a feeble economy
a vulnerable economy
a fragile economy
an unstable economy
a frail economy
weak signals
poor signals
poor-quality signals
unreliable signals
insufficient signals
inadequate signals
a weak solution
an inconsistent solution
an inadequate solution
an ineffectual solution
a faulty solution
a deficient solution
a weak smile
a feeble smile
a pathetic smile
a faint smile
a limp smile
an unconvincing smile

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 Other top dishes — though again, top is relative for a week this weak — include Shuai’s scallion pancake. Caroline Framke, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025 Strength is beating up on people who are weaker than you. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Dell Technologies’ balance sheet appears relatively weak. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead called the case weak and a deterrent to tech investment in a blog post on Sunday. Jody Godoy, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weak
Adjective
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2025
  • The caveat was that these materials need to be absurdly thin to get the noise down.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Now, at full boil, travelers are increasingly complaining about an unreasonable lack of legroom and other basic comforts.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
  • Add in at least $20 million to the athletics compensation pool via direct payments coming in the wake of the House settlement — the majority of which is ticketed for football at most P4 schools — and getting above $30 million isn’t unreasonable for a program like Ohio State or Texas.
    Sam Khan Jr., New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • In his only opportunity as the starter, Davis smashed a helpless Jets team for 152 total yards on 23 touches.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Because without them, we are often left with a patient who is terrified, paranoid, screaming, or striking out — and a family that is exhausted, helpless, and scared.
    Dr. Sabooh Mubbashar, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • During a question-and-answer session, shareholders grumbled about everything from the falling share price and feeble dividend of 6 euros versus 14 euros in 2023 to the complicated WiFi login process and historic lack of shareholder gifts.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But Alex lived strong, died well, gave birth to a pivotal Dutton baby, dumped her feeble aristo fiancé for Spencer, and gave viewers a love story saga.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The result is soft, luminous skin that’s also protected from a high UV index.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The frame is made from a soft velvet fabric that’s extremely comfortable to recline on.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Vinegar, which is really dilute acetic acid, will help the milk curdle by further denaturing the whey proteins and neutralizing negative charges at the surface of casein micelles.
    Liz Roth-Johnson, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2013
  • However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.
    George Johnson, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2013
Adjective
  • But here’s something important to consider: while the ick might seem like a spontaneous, irrational response, this might not always be the case.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Judge orders transgender passports despite 'irrational' Trump policy.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That kind of volatility, which has rattled financial markets and paralyzed businesses, simply wasn’t present under any other administration in history.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Bustillo’s spinal cord was severed, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weak. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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