WEAKNESS Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

weakness

noun

ˈwēk-nəs

Definition of weakness

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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as in fault

a defect in character his one weakness is his cockeyed optimism about everything

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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

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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 weakness Utah was expected to win handily and the Utes showed no glaring weaknesses in the blowout. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 But this will be the first time he’s asked to lead an offense and defenses will eventually create a book on Willis, taking away his strengths and forcing him to lean into his weaknesses. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026 As a company’s demands increase, weaknesses in operational systems tend to become amplified. — Farzana Abdulhusein, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Those with mild illness can recover completely, but some fatigue and weakness can last much longer, even weeks or months. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weakness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakness

Noun

Nighttime breathing problems and daytime fatigue raise your risk of heart disease and stroke — and menopause significantly increases your risk of getting it.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Sep. 2026
Momentum evaporates quickly amid donor fatigue and the return to daily operations.

— Stewart McLaurin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of fatigue

Noun

Jay Schmidt, president and chief executive officer of Caleres, acknowledged in a statement that results at Famous Footwear were below expectations, as a later back-to-school season and softness in lifestyle athletic pressured sales and margins.

— Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Ingredients like rosehip, argan, and coconut oils help condition hair and seal in moisture, while panthenol acts as a humectant to deliver softness and hydration.

— Polly Blitzer, Glamour, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of softness

Noun

After investigating 600 items of evidence related to the substation, the National Energy System Operator ruled out suspicious activity in a report saying a preventable moisture fault caused the fire, leaving almost 70,000 homes without power.

— Henry Austin, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026
Others criticized them for often being the progeny of Asian mothers and white fathers, as though this were somehow their fault.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of fault

Noun

Even his personal admission, from early in our interview, signals that Fern approaches his art with a transparent vulnerability.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
As coding assistants boost developer productivity, DevOps platforms have evolved to automate software delivery, whereas security tools and observability platforms are better at identifying vulnerabilities and delivering operational insights.

— Kumar Chivukula, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of vulnerability

Noun

Since last week, attacks have come day and night, compounding the terror of overnight strikes with the exhaustion of constant daytime disruption.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Willcox, who traveled with them, said the exhaustion was real, but that competing across disciplines had, paradoxically, helped.

— Andrew Rice, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of exhaustion

Noun

But one to keep an eye on — because it’s linked to serious complications such as frailty, falls and fractures — is sarcopenia.

— Sarah Klein, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026
Most of the 1-hour, 10-minute conversation was an amiable chat about faith, Vance’s own spiritual journey, his Easter meeting with Pope Francis the day before the pontiff’s death last year, and human frailty and fallibility.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of frailty

Noun

Being undefeated after a trio of difficult opening matches can only be seen as a positive, even if Newcastle’s obvious shortcomings require addressing if that run is to be prolonged.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Now, to the handwashing shortcomings, such as a cashier handling customer’s payment, then preparing drinks and serving plates of food to customers without washing hands (cash and payment cards tend to be germ motherships).

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of shortcoming

Noun

Operation Spider’s Web was a spectacular success for Ukrainian forces—and a chilling reminder of the United States’ susceptibility to a similar attack.

— Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
More fertilizer will likely bring about a higher quality lawn, but along with that carpet-like appearance comes higher water demands, more mowing, and in some cases, a greater susceptibility to pests and diseases.

— Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026