weakness

[ week-nis ]

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak; lack of strength, firmness, vigor, or the like; feebleness.

   Synonyms: fragility

   Antonyms: strength

2. an inadequate or defective quality, as in a person's character; slight fault or defect:

   to show great sympathy for human weaknesses.

   Synonyms: flaw

3. a self-indulgent liking or special fondness, as for a particular thing:

   I've always had a weakness for the opera.

   Synonyms: appetite, hunger, passion, penchant

4. an object of special desire; something very difficult to resist:

   Chocolates were her weakness.

weakness

/ ˈwiːknɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak
2. a deficiency or failing, as in a person's character
3. a self-indulgent fondness or liking

   a weakness for chocolates

Other Words From

• non·weakness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of weakness¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English waikenes, weikenes. See weak, -ness

Idioms and Phrases

see have a weakness for .

Synonym Study

See fault.

Example Sentences

However, the study also shows that the data material has some weaknesses.

From Science Daily

The director, Ben Taylor, keeps the momentum up despite his weakness for marking the passage of time with eyebrow-raising needle drops.

From New York Times

For example, the decrease of muscle mass and function, leading to weakness and atrophy.

From Science Daily

He said there had been weaknesses in the communications systems and in the plans to improve these across health trusts and in hospitals.

From BBC

You can game-plan all you want, there’s just not a weakness.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deficiency
• failing
• flaw
• fragility
• frailty
• gap
• instability
• lack
• lapse
• shortcoming
• vulnerability