as in weak
lacking strength of will or character
argues that in a time of war, the country can't afford to have a weakling president
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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as in coward
a person without strength of character
only a weakling would be willing to lie to save himself from punishment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of weakling
Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
One is the election of Trump, whose frivolousness about national security compliments his weakling's admiration for a bully.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 16 July 2023
The book is no 179-page weakling.
—Karen Heller, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
True to predictions, this El Niño is a weakling.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for weakling
Noun
But in a call with Mr. Licht after the meeting, Mr. Zaslav belittled Mr. Zucker as a weakling who had tears in his eyes, several people with knowledge of the conversation said.
—Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
One is the election of Trump, whose frivolousness about national security compliments his weakling's admiration for a bully.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 16 July 2023
The book is no 179-page weakling.
—Karen Heller, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
True to predictions, this El Niño is a weakling.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2019
See All Example Sentences for weakling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakling
Adjective
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However, a weaker dollar, resulting from tariffs and other policies, makes that harder for exporters.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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After seven episodes of pained teeth-gritting and wide-eyed astonishment, he’s found closure in confronting the man who killed his father (or not) and finding only a weak old guy too sickly to punch.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But the character, in Groening’s view, turned out to be a wimp.—
Darryn King,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2024
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The hard labor of making Wabanaki baskets Wabanaki basket-making isn’t for wimps.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA TODAY,
29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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There is no way a coward like Musk is in a position to accuse Sen. Kelly of being a traitor.—
DP Opinion,
The Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2025
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This is a cop novel that fully satisfies its genre expectations — chases, gun battles, sinister bad guys, questionable cops, cowards and heroes.—
Claude Peck,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Of the two sisters in the yellow house, Paula is a much gentler girl, a wuss, a baby, the biggest chicken—that’s how her sister thinks of her—and Rhonda is the boss.—
Alex Mar,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2023
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Teach, who carries a gun, is a wuss about the rain.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2022
Noun
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The Sharks’ first goal was a gimme, a softy by Smith.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
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Knox is a Great Pyrenees and Labrador mix who, despite weighing 77 pounds, is considered something of a softy.—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
21 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Weakling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakling. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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