A21K

Weak

UK /["/wiːk/"]/US /["/wiːk/"]/

Definition

not physically strong

In simple words: Not strong or powerful.

Examples

  • She felt weak after running the marathon.
  • His argument was weak and did not convince anyone.
  • The light from the candle was weak, barely illuminating the room.
  • He has a weak grip and can't hold the heavy box.
  • Their relationship is weak due to lack of communication.

Usage notes

Used to describe physical strength, emotional resilience, or ineffective arguments. Avoid using it in formal academic contexts to describe theories or ideas.

Grammar pattern

weak + noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'week' being not strong enough to hold a heavy load.

Collocations

  • appear
  • be
  • feel
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • at
  • from
  • in
  • weak at the knees
  • appear
  • be
  • feel
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • at
  • from
  • in
  • weak at the knees
  • appear
  • be
  • feel
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • at
  • from
  • in
  • weak at the knees

Synonyms

  • unconvincing

Antonyms

  • strong
  • powerful
  • robust

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'week' (the time period)
  • Using 'weak' to describe intelligence instead of 'not intelligent'
  • Overusing 'weak' to describe emotions, which can be seen as negative or stigmatizing