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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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3
as in fault
a defect in character
his one weakness is his cockeyed optimism about everything
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weakness
Diphtheria symptoms include fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, change in voice, shortness of breath, weakness, or fatigue.
—
Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Possible signs of end-stage prostate cancer include urinary problems, bone pain, weakness, shortness of breath, jaundice, loss of appetite, sleep changes, and confusion.
—Carrie Madormo, Health, 3 Aug. 2025
What lessons Trump learned from Cohn were entirely malevolent: Never show weakness.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
Surround yourself with people whose strengths complement your weaknesses.
—Amy Shoenthal, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for weakness
Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Possible signs of end-stage prostate cancer include urinary problems, bone pain, weakness, shortness of breath, jaundice, loss of appetite, sleep changes, and confusion.
—Carrie Madormo, Health, 3 Aug. 2025
What lessons Trump learned from Cohn were entirely malevolent: Never show weakness.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
Surround yourself with people whose strengths complement your weaknesses.
—Amy Shoenthal, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for weakness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakness
Noun
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From a physiological point of view, fatigue is associated with a rise in cortisol, the neuromediator that reflects our resilience to emotional or physical stress.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
6 Aug. 2025
-
To be clear, however, your fatigue probably wouldn’t be isolated to mealtimes if this were the case.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Interestingly, such behavior was observed even when participants knew they were being observed or recorded, showcasing how deep-seated the self-serving bias is with regard to owning fault and accepting responsibility.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Although there is often consensus among critics of the health-care system about its numerous faults, approaching the central issue of profiting from illness is virtually avoided.—
David Marks,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Between stress, shame, emotional disconnection, the current state of the world being challenging, and just plain exhaustion, desire can come and go.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
5 Aug. 2025
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The exhaustion and boredom is certainly a factor, but these books just aren’t making a strong case for themselves anymore.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Anderson's character served as the station's receptionist, combining striking looks with sharp intelligence and remarkable efficiency that often compensated for her colleagues' shortcomings.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
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In his 70-minute speech on Tuesday, Home Minister Shah did not acknowledge shortcomings on security.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Van Haren noted that susceptibility to the flu itself was likely a key risk factor.—
Andrew Zeng,
Mercury News,
31 July 2025
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There is variability, too, in susceptibility: Some people might develop CTE after fewer blows to the head.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
29 July 2025
Noun
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Don’t point to things with chopsticks or commit the double-dipping sin of taking food from a common plate with chopsticks that have been in your mouth.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
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The water is meant to show thanks to god, or provide spiritual relief, including purifying the devotee’s soul of sin.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
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President Biden’s troubles — lingering inflation, wars and rumors of wars, his debility — could have benefited any Republican.—
David Harsanyi,
National Review,
25 Jan. 2024
Noun
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If not carefully planned, ADF may increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Wernicke-Korsakoff disease: This disease is caused by chronic alcohol use and thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Weakness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakness. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
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