weak-kneed
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of weak-kneed
First recorded in 1860–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then there are my people, weak-kneed types who, come winter, wonder whether they can survive yet another cold snap.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
ByteDance stared it down, though, and bet that U.S. policymakers would get weak-kneed if the ban were actually about to go into effect.
From Slate ● Jan. 18, 2025
"I think I was weak-kneed and tongue tied, but I managed to squeak out 'Your Majesty, it's a great honour to meet you.' I will take those memories to my grave," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2022
All of this may help explain the weak-kneed result, but it does not justify it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2021
“You,” Alex told herself, “are a weak-kneed, spineless jellyfish.”
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
