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as in thin
not containing very much of some important element the coffee came out too weak because I didn't use enough ground beans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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a weak position
a vulnerable position
a susceptible position
an insecure position
a fragile position
a poor position
a weak economy
a feeble economy
a vulnerable economy
a fragile economy
an unstable economy
a frail economy
weak signals
poor signals
poor-quality signals
unreliable signals
insufficient signals
inadequate signals
a weak solution
an inconsistent solution
an inadequate solution
an ineffectual solution
a faulty solution
a deficient solution
a weak smile
a feeble smile
a pathetic smile
a faint smile
a limp smile
an unconvincing smile

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective weak contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of weak are decrepit, feeble, fragile, frail, and infirm. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

When is it sensible to use decrepit instead of weak?

The synonyms decrepit and weak are sometimes interchangeable, but decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

In what contexts can feeble take the place of weak?

Although the words feeble and weak have much in common, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

When might fragile be a better fit than weak?

While in some cases nearly identical to weak, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

When is frail a more appropriate choice than weak?

The meanings of frail and weak largely overlap; however, frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

Where would infirm be a reasonable alternative to weak?

The words infirm and weak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of weak Another operative questioned the strategic logic, noting that backing a weak or unpopular candidate and sparking open warfare with Trump’s team risks alienating the very voters Kemp would need in a future national campaign. Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2025 However, their inevitable in-spiral into each other is releasing constantly weak gravitational waves. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025 Witness the rally in the railroads last week that crushed shorts banking on weaker transport earnings. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 July 2025 This weak cash generation capability raises questions about the company’s ability to fund growth investments and return capital to shareholders. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for weak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weak
Adjective
  • Cover it with a thin layer of topsoil or compost to cover the seeds.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 24 July 2025
  • Light cushioning maximizes comfort and support in the arch of your foot, while keeping its thin profile.
    Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • His exact demands are unknown but given his status as one of the world’s leading players a range of £250,000 to £300,000 a week is far from unreasonable.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 25 July 2025
  • Barbara Attard, a police accountability expert, said meet and confer can last months, but beyond a year is unreasonable.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • When employees bring problems to their leaders, a dangerous dynamic often emerges, one that turns capable professionals into helpless children and transforms managers into overbearing parents.
    Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • For the first time in his life, the great shark couldn’t swim freely and, panic-stricken, bolted clear of his world and there was only emptiness, and his tail and pectoral fins were helpless in the void.
    Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • Joe Biden’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance, when the nation witnessed a hoarse and feeble president losing his train of thought and struggling to finish sentences, ended his re-election campaign.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 8 July 2025
  • Their feeble efforts fall flat, because the physical historical record dictates otherwise.
    Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Paint your walls in a softer, creamier yellow, for example.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
  • On the data side, expect the major economic reports to face a greater level of scrutiny following Friday’s soft jobs report and ugly downward revisions.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Vinegar, which is really dilute acetic acid, will help the milk curdle by further denaturing the whey proteins and neutralizing negative charges at the surface of casein micelles.
    Liz Roth-Johnson, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2013
  • However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.
    George Johnson, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2013
Adjective
  • The firm’s Hype Cycle normalizes — even glamorizes — the irrational, costly overpromising and overselling that hype entails.
    Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • And even some buyers who pride themselves on discipline and efficiency turn somewhat irrational.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • Carl Schulze, of Neenah, has used a wheelchair since 2007, when an accident severed his spinal cord and left him completely paralyzed.
    Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • In June 2022, his face was left partially paralyzed following a Ramsay Hunt Syndrome diagnosis, which forced him to halt his Justice tour and then cancel it entirely.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weak. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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