Definitions

weak

[week] / wik /

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not strong adj.
cowardly adj.
faint, soft adj.
deficient, feeble adj.
exposed, vulnerable adj.
watered-down adj.

ADJECTIVE

not strong

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anemic feeble fragile frail hesitant powerless shaky sickly sluggish uncertain unsteady weakened wobbly

WEAK

debilitated decrepit delicate effete enervated epicene exhausted faint flaccid flimsy forceless impuissant infirm insubstantial irresolute lackadaisical languid languorous limp makeshift out of gas prostrate puny rickety rocky rotten senile spent spindly supine torpid undependable unsound unsubstantial wasted wavering weakly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

healthy hearty powerful stable strong unbreakable

WEAK

capable fit potent

ADJECTIVE

cowardly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hesitant indecisive ineffectual insecure nervous powerless shaky soft uncertain unstable wobbly

WEAK

faint-hearted fluctuant frightened impotent infirm irresolute nerveless spineless timorous undependable unreliable unsure vacillating wavering weak-kneed wimpy wishy-washy zero

Antonyms

WEAK

bold brave confident

ADJECTIVE

faint, soft

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dull feeble low poor quiet small thin

WEAK

bated dim distant gentle imperceptible inaudible indistinct muffled pale reedy slight stifled unaccented unstressed whispered

Antonyms

WEAK

loud noisy

ADJECTIVE

deficient, feeble

Synonyms

STRONGEST

immature inadequate incomplete ineffective ineffectual inept lacking limited poor shaky slim small thin

WEAK

faulty flabby flimsy forceless green hollow implausible impotent improbable incompetent inconceivable inconclusive incredible invalid pathetic raw shallow slight spineless substandard thick unbelievable unconvincing unprepared unqualified unsatisfactory unsubstantial unsure untrained wanting

Antonyms

STRONGEST

able adequate competent enough strong sufficient

WEAK

capable fit potent

ADJECTIVE

exposed, vulnerable

Synonyms

WEAK

accessible assailable defenseless helpless indefensible unguarded unprotected unsafe untenable wide-open woundable

Antonyms

WEAK

able fit guarded potent protected safe secure

ADJECTIVE

watered-down

Synonyms

STRONGEST

thin

WEAK

dilute diluted insipid milk-and-water runny tasteless washy waterish watery wishy-washy

Antonyms

WEAK

concentrated potent strong thick

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for weak?

Weak means not strong. A synonym for weak in the context of physical strength is feeble. A person might also be considered weak as in cowardly or easily defeated. Something that can easily break can be described as fragile or delicate. When a sick or very tired person says they feel weak, it means they have no energy. A person who’s very ill and generally weak in this way might be described as frail. When weak means lacking in force, effectiveness, or support, synonyms are ineffectual and poor, as in That’s a weak/poor excuse. In the context of sounds, weak is used to mean faint, soft, and quiet. A weak sound might be one that’s indistinct, thin, or muffled. A very informal slang term that can mean the same thing as weak is weak sauce. To become weak is to weaken. A specific way of being weak is a weakness. Other terms for this are weak point, vulnerability, and soft spot. These terms often suggest a flaw that can allow someone or something to be defeated, attacked, exploited. An expression that means this is Achilles heel.

What is the opposite (antonym) of weak?

The direct and commonly used opposite of weak is strong. Strong can be used as the opposite of weak in most contexts, such as a person’s physical strength, the effectiveness of an argument, the flavor of a drink, etc. Other antonyms for weak include hearty and healthy (when weak means ill or frail), bold and brave (when weak means cowardly), and loud (when weak means faint or quiet).

How do you spell weak?

Weak as in lacking strength is spelled with ea. Week as in the period of seven days is spelled with ee. You can remember this because seven also has two e’s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

weak weaker weakest

Lawrence lifted England to 177-7 in their second innings, with a lead of 357 looking colossal given the assistance on offer for bowlers and Pakistan's weak batting.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

“Strong external demand, combined with continued implementation of existing investment and industrial-upgrading policies, may support manufacturing activity. But persistently weak domestic demand is likely to keep both indices below the 50 threshold.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Another weak labor-market report next Friday could easily dim hopes of a September rate hike, Brooks added.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026

“It’s like pathologizing the idea of caring for each other, and of course it’s weak to care for the environment.”

From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026

“Now, your daddy’s head has bandages on it and he’s very weak and tired,” I told them.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

The pace of job growth was probably slightly weaker than reported from early 2025 through early this year, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Management expects 3Q to be seasonally weaker before a stronger 4Q, driven by recovering air-travel demand and e-commerce activity, he notes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Wall Street had expected weaker growth on both metrics, according to FactSet data.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Iran's economy could be much weaker by then.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

She gave a weak smile to Kelly, an even weaker smile to George, then stepped offstage.

From "George" by Alex Gino

The operation to buy yen came after the unit hit 163.99 per dollar last month, its weakest since 1986.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

The effect was strongest for liver cancer, where rates were around 69% lower, and weakest – though still substantial – for breast cancer, at 36% lower.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

The people in power—officers and civilians—seem to have ignored the possibility that the enemy would attack our weakest links, in this case the supply hubs.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

Melissa Davies, chief economist at Rothschild Redburn, noted the wage growth was the weakest since May 2021.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

But as I climbed into the passenger seat, he only gave me the weakest smile before he dissolved into a sort of humiliated depression.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia

weak

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

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