Definitions

weak-kneed

[week-need] / ˈwikˈnid /

ADJECTIVE

cowardly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dastardly

WEAK

afraid anxious apprehensive backward base chicken-hearted cowering cowhearted craven diffident dismayed fainthearted frightened gutless having the willies jittery lacking courage lily-livered nervous no guts panicky pigeonhearted pusillanimous recreant retiring running scared scared shrinking shy soft spineless timid timorous weak worthless yellow yellow-bellied

Antonyms

WEAK

bold brave courageous daring dauntless unafraid undaunted unfearful

ADJECTIVE

craven

Synonyms

STRONGEST

mean-spirited

STRONG

chicken yellow

WEAK

cowardly dastardly fearful gutless lily-livered poltroonish pusillanimous scared timorous wimpish wimpy wussy yellow-bellied

Antonyms

WEAK

bold brave courageous heroic strong

ADJECTIVE

dizzy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dazed distracted dumb giddy groggy shaky wobbly woozy

STRONG

addled befuddled bemused bewildered blind blinded dazzled disturbed dumbfounded faint light muddled puzzled reeling staggered staggering swimming upset whirling

WEAK

gaga hazy off balance out of control punch-drunk punchy slap-happy tipsy unsteady vertiginous weak in the knees

Antonyms

STRONGEST

steady

STRONG

clear

WEAK

clear-headed unconfused

ADJECTIVE

docile

Synonyms

STRONGEST

easygoing gentle laid-back meek obedient pliable pliant well-behaved

WEAK

accommodating acquiescent adaptable agreeable amenable biddable childlike complacent cool docious ductile easily influenced easy governable humble manageable mellow mild obliging orderly quiet resigned soft tame teachable tractable usable willing yielding

Antonyms

WEAK

determined headstrong inflexible intractable obstinate opinionated stubborn uncooperative unyielding

ADJECTIVE

fearful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afraid agitated anxious frightened hesitant jittery nervous panicky scared shy skittish tense timid uneasy

WEAK

aflutter aghast chicken chickenhearted diffident discomposed disquieted disturbed fainthearted goose-bumpy have cold feet in a dither intimidated jumpy lily-livered mousy nerveless nervy perturbed phobic pusillanimous quivery rabbity running scared shaky sheepish shrinking solicitous spineless timorous tremulous unmanly worried yellow

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bold brave calm composed confident cool easygoing extroverted fearless happy laid-back unafraid unworried

WEAK

courageous good inapprehensive nice pleasant unfearful

ADJECTIVE

indecisive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

doubtful hesitant tentative wishy-washy

WEAK

changeable faltering halting hemming and hawing hesitating hot-and-cold inconclusive indeterminate irresolute of two minds on the fence unclear undecided undetermined uneventful unsettled unstable vacillating waffling wavering

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite sure

WEAK

decisive deliberate determined

ADJECTIVE

irresolute

Synonyms

WEAK

changing doubtful doubting faltering fearful fickle fluctuating halfhearted halting hesitant hesitating hot-and-cold on-the-fence tentative timid uncertain undecided undetermined unsettled unstable unsteady vacillating waffling wavering weak wimpy wishy-washy wobbly

Antonyms

WEAK

definite determined obstinate resolute stubborn unyielding willful

ADJECTIVE

meek

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deferential docile gentle passive serene subdued submissive timid unassuming

WEAK

Milquetoast acquiescent forbearing humble lenient long-suffering longanimous lowly manageable mild modest nothing orderly pabulum patient peaceful plain resigned soft spineless spiritless tame tolerant unpretentious unresisting weak wishy-washy yielding zero

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bold brave disobedient excited intractable troubled unyielding

WEAK

emboldened immodest impertinent uninhibited

ADJECTIVE

reeling

Synonyms

STRONG

addled befuddled bemused bewildered blind blinded dazed dazzled distracted disturbed dumbfounded faint light muddled puzzled staggered staggering swimming upset whirling

WEAK

dumb gaga giddy groggy hazy lightheaded off balance out of control punch-drunk punchy shaky slap-happy tipsy unsteady vertiginous weak in the knees wobbly woozy

Antonyms

STRONG

aware clear heavy understanding

ADJECTIVE

slaphappy

Synonyms

WEAK

befuddled bewildered dazzled gaga giddy groggy hazy punch-drunk punchy puzzled senile silly staggered staggering tipsy unsteady weak in the knees wobbly woozy

ADJECTIVE

spineless

Synonyms

STRONG

invertebrate

WEAK

amoebalike faint-hearted fearful feeble forceless frightened gutless impotent inadequate ineffective ineffectual irresolute lily-livered nerveless pithless soft spiritless squeamish submissive timid vacillating weak weak-willed yellow yellow-bellied

Antonyms

WEAK

bold brave strong

ADJECTIVE

thin

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flat flimsy meager poor shallow skimpy sparse thick transparent

STRONG

diluted lame scant scattered slight stretched

WEAK

feeble implausible improbable inadequate inconceivable incredible insubstantial insufficient questionable scanty scarce sketchy superficial unbelievable unconvincing unpersuasive unsubstantial untenable vapid

Antonyms

STRONGEST

adequate full intelligent reasonable strong substantial sufficient

STRONG

concentrated

WEAK

dense efficient fat heavy inflated obese solid undiluted

ADJECTIVE

weak

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 wimpy wishy-washy zero

Antonyms

WEAK

bold brave confident

ADJECTIVE

weak-minded

Synonyms

WEAK

changeable hemming and hawing hesitant hesitating indeterminate irresolute on the fence spineless tentative uncertain undecided undetermined waffling wavering wishy-washy without guts yellow-bellied

ADJECTIVE

weak-willed

Synonyms

WEAK

cowardly gutless soft spineless timid weak

Antonyms

WEAK

bold brave firm strong

ADJECTIVE

wishy-washy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

indecisive

WEAK

banal characterless cowardly enervated feeble flat flavorless ineffective ineffectual insipid irresolute jejune languid listless mediocre namby-pamby sapless spiritless tasteless thin vacillating vapid watered-down watery wavering weak

Antonyms

WEAK

dynamic exciting interesting lively

ADJECTIVE

woozy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

befuddled bewildered dazed giddy groggy puzzled queasy shaky tipsy unsteady wobbly

WEAK

bemused confused dazzled dumbfounded faint gaga hazy light-headed muddled off balance punch-drunk punchy reeling seeing stars slap-happy staggered staggering weak in the knees

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain clear cognizant sober stable steady sure unshaky

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.

Then there are my people, weak-kneed types who, come winter, wonder whether they can survive yet another cold snap.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

Wish You Were Dead is about a relationship that veers between being affectionate and volatile; while in Big Brown Eyes, Young gets weak-kneed when a lukewarm love interest insults her.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025

ByteDance stared it down, though, and bet that U.S. policymakers would get weak-kneed if the ban were actually about to go into effect.

From Slate • Jan. 18, 2025

All of this may help explain the weak-kneed result, but it does not justify it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 15, 2021

Poppy helped the weak-kneed lady into the car, then turned to Liyana as it disappeared.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye

weak-kneed

Example Sentences

Related Words