weakness

pronunciation

How to pronounce weakness in British English: UK [ˈwiːknəs] word uk audio image

How to pronounce weakness in American English: US [ˈwiːknəs] word us audio image

Noun:

a flaw or weak point
powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
the property of lacking physical or mental strength; liability to failure under pressure or stress or strain
the condition of being financially weak
a penchant for something even though it might not be good for you

Word Origin

weakness (n.): c. 1300, "quality of being weak," from weak + -ness. Meaning "a disadvantage, vulnerability" is from 1590s. That of "self-indulgent fondness" is from 1712; meaning "thing for which one has an indulgent fondness" is from 1822.

Synonym

n.

taste inclination love fondness passion yearning liking tooth longing desire appetite predisposition spot soft leaning partiality appreciation affection penchant proneness propensity sweet

n.

delicacy feebleness decrepitude impuissance senility infirmity incapability depletion ineptitude inability powerlessness energy lack puniness debility disability of fragility helplessness incapacity anemia enervation impotence frailty strength frailness exhaustion

n.

armor blemish in flaw shortcoming underbelly liability soft imperfection Achille's vulnerability handicap weak deficiency fault spot lapse chink one's blotch failing openness mar heel defect susceptibleness

Example

1. But russia 's weakness is more fundamental .

2. But is the idea that crying denotes weakness old-fashioned ?

3. Business investment has actually held up fairly well given this weakness in demand .

4. Underlying these risks is a deeper weakness .

5. The epicentre of weakness in global equities remains financials .

more: >How to Use "weakness" with Example Sentences