weakling

American  

[week-ling] / ˈwik lɪŋ /

noun

1. a person who is physically or morally weak.

   Synonyms:

   namby-pamby, chicken, milksop

---

adjective

1. weak; not strong.

weakling British  

/ ˈwiːklɪŋ /

noun

1. a person or animal that is lacking in strength or weak in constitution or character

---

Etymology

Origin of weakling

First recorded in 1520–30; weak + -ling ¹

Example Sentences

To them he was not an undersized, scared weakling.

From Literature

Former Big Ten weakling Indiana defied all conventional wisdom to become the nation’s only undefeated team and claim its first-ever No. 1 ranking.

From The Wall Street Journal

Don’t get me wrong: J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI’s legendary founding director, would view Patel as a contemptible weakling.

From Salon

So he’s downplayed concerns about Epstein, calling some of his supporters “weaklings” for buying into what he sold them for years.

From Salon

My mother was the weakling; my father was the smartest person in the room.

From Salon

Related Words

• wimp