Synonyms of weakness

weakness

noun

ˈwēk-nəs 

1

as in fatigue

the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor

the flu left me with such overwhelming weakness that I could hardly stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fatigue
• exhaustion
• feebleness
• debility
• fragility
• faintness
• frailty
• impairment
• infirmity
• asthenia
• enervation
• debilitation
• injury
• enfeeblement
• lowness
• languor
• listlessness
• decay
• frailness
• wimpiness
• tenderness
• breakdown
• disablement
• damage
• languidness
• delicacy
• collapse
• helplessness
• impotence
• decrepitude
• powerlessness
• weariness
• softness
• prostration
• lassitude
• hurt
• harm
• invalidism
• defenselessness
• incapacitation
• impuissance
• effeteness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strength
• vigor
• robustness
• hardiness
• vitality
• energy
• hardihood
• fitness
• virility
• toughness
• hardness
• muscularity
• huskiness
• health
• sturdiness
• ruggedness
• stoutness
• soundness
• lustiness
• wellness
• brawniness
• healthiness
• heftiness

2

as in softness

the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character

in a moment of weakness he said yes to his daughter's request for a new toy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• softness
• frailness
• corruptness
• wimpiness
• frailty
• spinelessness
• evil
• flaw
• wimpishness
• corruption
• failing
• wishy-washiness
• collapse
• foible
• peccadillo
• wickedness
• immorality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strength
• toughness
• fortitude
• nerve
• backbone
• firmness
• mettle
• hardihood
• discipline
• resoluteness
• chutzpah
• goodness
• integrity
• morality
• moxie
• righteousness
• rightness
• self-discipline
• rectitude
• uprightness
• virtuousness

3

as in fault

a defect in character

his one weakness is his cockeyed optimism about everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fault
• shortcoming
• sin
• deficiency
• failing
• foible
• frailty
• sinfulness
• vice
• demerit
• feet of clay
• flaw
• evil
• dereliction
• imperfection
• stain
• want
• blemish
• minus
• blot
• corruption
• immorality
• soft spot
• spot
• wickedness
• nit
• depravity
• Achilles' heel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• virtue
• merit
• excellence
• perfection
• integrity
• goodness
• morality
• righteousness
• rectitude
• probity

4

as in vulnerability

the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent

the devastating weakness of the immune system that is experienced by people with certain chronic conditions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vulnerability
• susceptibility
• sensitivity
• exposure
• defenselessness
• helplessness
• powerlessness
• proneness
• feebleness
• passivity
• frailty
• predisposition
• infirmity
• openness
• naïveté
• passiveness
• gullibility
• receptivity
• easiness
• frailness
• receptiveness
• liability
• credulity
• credulousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• invulnerability
• immunity
• impenetrability
• invincibility
• indomitability
• indomitableness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of weakness

Potatoes Parton admitted to Wired that potatoes were her weakness. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Amy was born with a neuromuscular disease that was officially diagnosed in 2018 as Bethlem myopathy, a rare form of muscular dystrophy that causes progressive muscle weakness and affects mobility. — Elissa Candiotti, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

After allowing more than 160 rushing yards per game last season, FIU’s early improvement up front could signal that the Panthers have addressed one of their biggest defensive weaknesses. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Some of the weakness may have been related to the end of the FIFA World Cup, so a solidly positive number should help reassure investors about the health of the labor market. — Jeff Marks,zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026