as in weak
lacking strength of will or character
argues that in a time of war, the country can't afford to have a weakling president
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
Lisa Stardust, People.com, 2 July 2025
Based on this challenge, the groups would have been weaklings Cedrek, Star, Chrissy, Sai, Kamilla, and Mary in one group and Eva, Joe, Mitch, Kyle, David, and Shauhin in the strongman group.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
The fact these losers want to jail Andrew and Tristan Tate for preaching their version of traditional masculinity highlights the fact that these fascist feminists are fragile weaklings incapable of defending their position in the free marketplace of ideas.
—David Catanese, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
In Europe the obvious weaklings are Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and DS.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weakling
Noun
The sign Scorpio isn’t known to be a weakling, nor is Tyrannosaurus.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 2 July 2025
Based on this challenge, the groups would have been weaklings Cedrek, Star, Chrissy, Sai, Kamilla, and Mary in one group and Eva, Joe, Mitch, Kyle, David, and Shauhin in the strongman group.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
The fact these losers want to jail Andrew and Tristan Tate for preaching their version of traditional masculinity highlights the fact that these fascist feminists are fragile weaklings incapable of defending their position in the free marketplace of ideas.
—David Catanese, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
In Europe the obvious weaklings are Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and DS.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for weakling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakling
Adjective
-
Taking new measurements, the researchers saw that as fluid gushed between cells, creating indentations in their cell membranes, bubbles mostly bulged into weaker cells.—
Clare Watson,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Trump suggested in the aftermath of that raid that military action in Cuba might not be necessary because the island’s economy was weak enough — particularly in the absence of oil shipments from Venezuela that stopped after Maduro was taken into custody — to soon collapse on its own.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Eventually Sutton calls Amanda a wimp for not wanting any part of any confrontation, and Amanda tells her not to call her a wimp in her own home.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The real star of the show is, of course, Battle Cat, the giant green armored tiger whose alias is Cringer, Prince Adam’s wimp of a house cat.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Maekar refuses, earning a cutting rebuttal from Dunk about the royal upbringing that turned Daeron (Henry Ashton) into a drunken coward and Aerion into an arrogant and cruel madman.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Please do not take the coward’s way.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Infants and children under 5 years old, pregnant women and people with weakened immune symptoms are most at risk for complications from measles.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The illness can be dangerous or life-threatening, particularly to older adults, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Henry is a megalomaniac and a complete wuss.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Weakling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakling. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
