weakling 1 of 2

weakling

2 of 2

noun

1
as in wimp
a person lacking in physical strength he had been a weakling until high school, when he started working out to put on muscle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in coward
a person without strength of character only a weakling would be willing to lie to save himself from punishment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 weakling
Noun
In Europe the obvious weaklings are Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and DS. Neil Winton, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 What cinches this daring perspective is actor Andrew Scott’s phenomenal characterization as a weakling who grapples with gradual self-awareness. Armond White, National Review, 29 Dec. 2023 But in a call with Mr. Licht after the meeting, Mr. Zaslav belittled Mr. Zucker as a weakling who had tears in his eyes, several people with knowledge of the conversation said. Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023 One is the election of Trump, whose frivolousness about national security compliments his weakling's admiration for a bully. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 16 July 2023 See All Example Sentences for weakling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakling
Adjective
  • Stevenson has become more intentional with his efforts to understand offensive concepts and routes and the ways opposing teams often attack his weak spots.
    Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • But this weaker god jumped in without hesitation and was gifted the ability to become Tonatiuh, the sun.
    Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wes Siler, our longtime outdoor lifestyle columnist, is a total wimp who obsessively pursues comfort in extreme environments.
    Wes Siler, Outside, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The opposite of a wimp is a Superman, the comic book creation of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Schuster.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • We are told that politics is for cowards, literary analysis is for women, education is a system of liberal indoctrination, brave individuals must resist the herd.
    Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Punk then made his entrance to confront Lynch, calling Rollins a coward for hiding behind his wife.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad may be contaminated by bacteria listeria monocytogenes, which can cause fatal infections in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, according to a news release from Kroger.
    Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is most likely to sicken pregnant people and newborns, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Of the two sisters in the yellow house, Paula is a much gentler girl, a wuss, a baby, the biggest chicken—that’s how her sister thinks of her—and Rhonda is the boss.
    Alex Mar, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2023
  • Teach, who carries a gun, is a wuss about the rain.
    New York Times, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2022
Noun
  • Swayman shrugged off the softy and several key stops early in the third period when the B’s took back-to-back penalties.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Jamie would probably cry over this; that highlander is a softy.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weakling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakling. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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