Weak

Webster

adjective

• Etymology: Middle English weike, from Old Norse veikr; akin to Old English w墨can to yield, Greek eikein to give way, Sanskrit vijate he speeds, flees
• Date: 14th century
  • 1. lacking strength: as
    • a. deficient in physical vigor ;feeble, debilitated
    • b. not able to sustain or exert much weight, pressure, or strain
    • c. not able to resist external force or withstand attack
    • d. easily upset or nauseated <a ~ stomach>
  • 2.
    • a. mentally or intellectually deficient
    • b. not firmly decided ; vacillating
    • c. resulting from or indicating lack of judgment or discernment
    • d. not able to withstand temptation or persuasion <the spirit is willing but the flesh is ~>
  • 3. not factually grounded or logically presented <a ~ argument>
  • 4.
    • a. not able to function properly <~ eyes>
    • b.
      • (1) lacking skill or proficiency <tutoring for ~er students>*est subject>
    • c. wanting in vigor of expression or effect <a ~ translation of the poem>
  • 5.
    • a. deficient in the usual or required ingredients ;dilute <~ coffee>
    • b. lacking normal intensity or potency <a ~ radio signal> <a ~ strain of virus>
  • 6.
    • a.ting authority or political power <~ government>
    • b. ineffective, impotent
  • 7. of, relating to, or constituting a verb or verb conjugation that in English forms the past tense and past participle by adding the suffix -ed or -d or -t
  • 8.
    • a. bearing the minimal degree of stress occurring in the language <a ~ syllable>
    • b. having little or no stress and obscured vowel sound <'d in he'd is the ~ form of would>
  • 9. tending toward a lower price or value <a ~ market> <a ~ dollar>
  • 10. ionizing only slightly in solution <~ acids and bases>
• + ~ly adverb
• Synonyms:
  • ~, feeble, frail, fragile, infirm, decrepit mean not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort. ~ applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort <felt ~ after the surgery>. feeble suggests extreme ~ness inviting pity or contempt <a feeble attempt to walk>. frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure <a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports>. fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage <a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world>. infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness <infirm residents requiring constant care>. decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age <the dowager's decrepit retainers>